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RE-DEDICATION 



OLD STATE HOUSE. 







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OLD STATE HOUSE. 
WEST END, 1883. 



EE-DEDICATION 



OLD STATE HOUSE, 

BOSTON, 
JULY 11, 1882. 

SECOND EDI X ION. 




Boston: 

PKINTEn BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 
18 8 3. 



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CITY OF BOSTOX 



Ix Board of Aldeemex, July 17, 18S2. 

Ordered, That an account of the proceedings attending the re-dedication 
of the Old State House be prepared by the Clerk of Committees, under 
the direction of the Committee on Printing, and that fifteen hundred 
copies thereof be printed; the expense to be charged to the appropriation 
for Printing. 

Passed in Common Council. Came up for concurrence. Bead and 
concurred. Approved by the Mayor, July 18, 1882. 



Ix BoABD OF Aldeemex, Juue 5, 1883. 

Ordered, That the Committee on Printing be authorized to stereotype 
and print an edition of one thousand copies of the Old State House 
Memorial; the cost to be charged to the appropriation for Printing. 

Passed. Sent up for concurrence. In Common Council, June 14. 
Concurred. Approved by the 5Iayor, June 16, 1883. 




CHURCHIU.* 



i 



CONTENTS. 



Preluiinart Note .... 

Proceedings at Re-dedication 

Remarks of Alderman Charles H. Horsey 

Prayer 

Oration .... 
Remarks of Mayor Samuel A. Green 
Remarks of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder 
Letter from Gov. John D. Long 
Letter from Com. 0. C. Badger 



Appendix : — 



A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
F. 
G. 
H. 
I. 



Index 



Papers relative to Town House of 1G57 
Papers relative to rebuilding in 1711 . 
Papers relative to Fire in 1747 . 

Note relative to the Lion and Unicorn 

Note relative to Faneuil Hall . 

Note relative to Old City Hall, School street 

Report of City Architect .... 

Financial Exhibit 

Extracts from the Will of Captain Robert Keavne 



PAGE 

9 

17 

18 
19 
23 
121 
124 
126 
126 



129 
133 
139 
145 
149 
152 
158 
1G2 
168 
175 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 

Old State House, Washington-street Elevation . . . Frontisi)iece 

Old State House, East End, 1882 17 

Old State House, Interior Views, 1883 22 

*01d State House in 1791 63 

■James Otis 70 

State-street Massacre 82 

♦Samuel Adams 84: 

*.Tosiah Quincy, Jr 87 

*John Hancock 88 

*Thomas Gushing, Speaker, 1771 90 

♦James Bowdoin 04 

Old State House in 1785 95 

Triumphal Arch at the Eeception of Washington in 1789 ... 90 
Fac-simile of Order of Procession, in Honor of Washington's Visit in 

1789 97 

♦Old State House in 179:i 98 

Old State House in 1799 98 

♦Old State House in 1801 101 

Old State House in 1821, by Hales 107 

State Street and Old State House in 182G 109 

Old State House, from Pemberton Hill, Salmon's View, 1829 . . 110 

Old State House in 1835, 1850, 1880 Ill 

Old State House in 18.30, 1835, 1838 112 

Old State House on Fire in 1832 114 

Old State House in 187fi, showing Mansard Roof, Signs, etc. . . 116 

Faneuil Hall in 1789 149 

Faneuil Hall in 182G 151 

Court House, Boston, erected in 1811-12 152 

Diagrams from Maps in 1800 .and 1814 showing Court House . . 154 

Johnson Hall, Court Square ........ 155 

Court House, 1851 156 

City Hall, 1856 ■ 157 

Architect's Plan, Old State House 159 



' l''roni tho Areinori.-il TIi.<tnry of Boston, by permission. 



PRELIMINARY NOTE. 



PRELIMINAEY NOTE, 



The restoration of the Old State House is an event of 
which every Bostonian may well be proud. The history of 
the building is so indissolubly connected with the most 
stirring events in the annals of the city, and of the nation 
also, that it is a source of peculiar gratification to know 
that the ancient edifice has been saved from destruction, 
and will be handed down to future generations in a form 
s.ubstantially the same as it presented when within its 
venerable walls "the child Independence was liorn." 

The liuilding narrowly escaped destruction in 1876. In 
that year the leases expired, and an eflbrt was made to re- 
move it, on the ground that it was an obstruction to the 
extension of Devonshire street. The subject was vigorously 
discussed in both branches of the City Council, and re- 
sulted in a compromise, by which the portico on the east- 
erly end, built in 1830, was removed, and the space that 
it occupied thrown into the street. The building was then 
re-leased for a term of five years. 

At the termination of the leases, in 1881, the question 
arose as to whether the building should be again leased, 
or whether it should be restored to its original condition 
and preserved for public purposes.^ The latter view pre- 

^For report of hearings, see City Document 71 B, 1881. 



10 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

vailed, iind the result is eommeuionited iu the Ibliowiiig 
pages. 

The history of the Old State House is so eompletely 
related iu Mr. A\'hituiore"s oration that any farther elabo- 
ration on the subject appears superfluous ; but, inasmuch 
.as attempts have been made to throw discredit upon the 
claims of the building to be a genuine relic of revolution- 
ary and pre-revolutionar}' times, a few words on that point 
may not be out of place. 

Throughout all the changes that have taken place the 
Old State House has jjreserved its original form more 
closely than any other of the historic buildings of the 
country. The alterations that have been made from time 
to time were such as did not aflcct the construction of the 
huilding to any great extent, and the material in it to-day 
is mostly that Avliich was put in place by the original 
builders. The work of restoration consisted mainly of re- 
moving the additions that were made when the building- 
was titted up for mercantile uses. The new work placed 
in the building consisted principally of interior tinish, such 
as would naturally require renewal in course of time from 
the wear and tear iucidental to buildings used -for public 
purposes. 

For the purpose; of more fully illustrating this fact it 
has been thought desirable to present several reproductions 
of old ]irints whicli show the appearance of the building 
at ditlerent times, and j)rove that the exterior form of the 
old building has not been materially changed. 

The first view is that given in Paul Revere's engraving 
of the l')oston massacre, made about 1770. This is the 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. H 

earliest view extant, aud is particularly intei-estiiig from 
the ftict that it is the only one which shows the lion and 
unicorn. The view of 1785, taken from the cover of the 
" Boston Magazine " for July of that }' ear, gives a clearer 
view of the lower story, and shows that the lion and uni- 
corn had been removed since Paul Revere's sketch was 
made. The fact that an engraving of the building was 
chosen to embellish the title-page of a popular magazine 
indicates that it was considered of considerable importance 
at that time. This is still further shown by a view of the 
building being placed upon the policies of the Massachu- 
setts Fire Insurance Company, incorporated in 1795, a copy 
of which is herewith given. 

The view of 1801 is an engraving made for the Memo- 
rial History of Boston, from a painting by J. B. Marston, 
in the possession of the Historical Society. The view of 
1821, from Hales' survey, shows the first extensive altera- 
tion. The steps had been removed and a large window 
substituted for the door under the l)alcony. 

The view of 182G, from Snow's history, shows that a 
clock had been substituted for a sun-dial. Chimnej^s also 
appear for the first time. They were probably built when 
the upper portion of the building was leased to the 
Masonic order. The view from Suow's Geograj^hy, of 1830, 
shows the alterations made when the building was fitted 
up for municipal purposes. The upper balcony was ex- 
tended across the building, and was supported by eight heavy 
columns, arranged in pairs, and resting upon a lower bal- 
cony. This view is the only one that shows the town-pump, 
which is still remembered by many of our older citizens. 



12 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

Salmon's picture of the fire in 1832, and the A'iew from 
Bowen's volume of 1838, both show the l)uilding un- 
changed. 

The view made by Loring, in 1876, shows the addition 
of a Mansard roof, and gives a correct idea of the build- 
ing as it appeared when given over completely to business 
purposes. Shortly after this sketch was made the balco- 
nies on the easterly end were removed in order to widen 
the street, and the 1)uilding then appeared as shown in the 
view made in 1880. 

Turning now to the Washington-street end, the earliest 
view is that of 1789, taken from the '"Polyanthus." This 
print shows a temporary balcony, erected for the accom- 
modation of General Washington, when he reviewed the 
procession in honor of his visit to Boston. It siiows, also, 
the triumphal art-h, which was thrown across Washington 
street. In this connection a copy of the programme of 
the procession is given, slightly reduced in size, from the 
original now in possession of the Public Library. 

The views of 1791 and of 1795, 1)oth from the "Massa- 
chusetts Magazine," sliow no alteration in the buildins;. 

The drawing made by Hunt, and lithographed by Pen- 
dleton, in 1835, shows a Ijiilcony supported l)y heavy 
colunnis, and corresponds with a view given in tlie Bewiclc 
Company's map of saiu(^ date. 

A lithograph niatle in 1850 sliows Ihtit the? columns had 
))een removed, and a, modern stoi-c front put in. This 
condition nmiained substantially uuchangcHl in 1880. 

On examining these views it will be seen that the orig- 
inal lines of the old luiildiiig have not been altered, and 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 13 

that the exterior walls remain intact, except where the 
doors and windows in the loiver story were enlarged. 

Comparing the Old State House with other historic build- 
ings, as, for instance, Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, 
and Faneuil Hall, the former has certainly the strongest 
claim to be regarded as a genuine i-elic. Etting's history 
of Independence Hall proves that the work of restoring 
that edifice was attended by far greater difficulties than 
were met with in the Old State House. 

Two views of Faneuil Hall are given. One from the 
" Massachusetts Magazine," showing the building as it ap- 
peared in revolutionary days ; the other, from Snow's his- 
tory, showing it after it Mas enlarged in 1808, or as it is 
to-da}'. A white line on the latter engraving indicates the 
outline of the old building, and shows that the historic 
Faneuil Hall was a much smaller building than the present 
one ; in fact, but a small portion of the old building re- 
mains ; nevertheless, no one questions the title of both In- 
dependence Hall and Faneuil Hall to be venerated as 
genuine relics of historic times. 

W. H. L. 



PROCEEDINGS AT RE-DEDICATION. 




OLD STATE HOUSE. 
EAST END, 1882 



PEOCEEDINGS AT EE-DEDICATION. 



The five years' lease of the Old State House expired July 
1, 1881. lu anticipation of that event it was suggested that 
the historic interest of the huildinij was so great that it might 
be desirable to retain the control of, at least, the upper part 
floor of the building for public uses, and to restore the whole 
edifice to the appearance it wore a century ago. The City 
Council, after considerable discussion, voted to appro2iriate 
the sura of thirty-five thousand dollars for repairs on the 
building, putting the charge, as usual, in the hands of the 
, Committee on Pul)lic Buildings, of which Alderman William 
"Woolle^^ was chairman in 1881 and 1882. 

The work proved greater than was anticipated; but on 
June 29, 1882, the committee was alile to announce the sub- 
stantial completion of their labors (see City Doc. 100), and 
to invite the City Council to attend at the formal transfer of 
the 1)uilding to His Honor the Mayor, on Tuesday, July 11. 
Accordingly, on the forenoon of that day, the following pro- 
ceedings took place, which are now published liy order of 
the City Council. 

The ceremonies were held in the East Hall, occupied in 
colonial times l)y the Governor and Council, afterwards by 
the State Senate, and from 1830 to 1840 liy the Board of 
Aldermen. Portraits of the old governors, Winthrop, 



18 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Endicott, Bellingham, and Burnet, were kindly loaned for 
tlie occasion, hy direction of Hon. Robert R. Bishop, Presi- 
dent of Uie Senate. The Massachusetts Historical Society 
loaned portraits of Governors Belcher, Joseph Dudley, and 
Hutchinson. The Public Library contributed a caricature 
of Governor Gaoe, and enoravinss of Governors Pownall 
and Andros also hung upon the walls. 

In the West Hall, formerly occupied by the House of 
Representatives, and later l)y the Common Council, were 
the superb portraits of Samuel Adams and John Hancock, 
owned by the city, and Stuart's portrait of Josiah Quincy, 
Jr., the patriot. Other interesting pictures and engravings 
adorned the various rooms. The orator of the day delivered 
his address from the Speaker's desk used in the old House 
of Representatives, and now owned by the Massachusetts 
Historical Society. 

Owing to the unavoidable absence of Alderman WooUey, 
chairman of the committee, the assemblage was called to 
order by Alderman Hersey, who spoke as follows : — 

Mr. Mayor, Gentlemen of the City Council, Ladies 
and Gentlemen: — 

You are assembled here to-day to receive the 
report of the committee to whom was assigned the 
duty of renovating and restoring the Old State 
House. The work is completed, of which you have 
the evidence before you, and I am happy to say it 
has been done within the estimates and appropria- 
tion. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 19 

The work of restoration has not been accom- 
plished except by much expenditm-e of time and 
tliought in delving among old documents for evi- 
dences of what the building was in its early days ; 
and it presents to-day, both as to its exterior 
and interior, substantially the same appearance that 
it did in those early days of its history when the 
noble men, whose portraits look down upon us here 
walked these streets, and to the gathered citizens 
withm these historic walls spoke the jjatriotic words 
of counsel that incited them to deeds of noble daring 
in defence of national liberty, and made this country 
a free republic. 

It would seem proper that, in dedicating this build- 
ing to purposes akin to those for which it was 
originally designed, we should seek the Divine favor. 
I therefore will request the Rev. Dr. Rufus Ellis, 
l^astor of the First Church, to ask a blessing. It 
would seem appropriate and fitting that he, the pas- 
tor of the church which in its early days was located 
in this immediate vicinity, should thus officiate. You 
will please give your attention while the Rev. Dr. 
Ellis asks a blessing. 



PRATER BY RUFUS ELLIS, D.D. 

O God of our fathers, our dwelling-place in all 
generations, we thank Thee for oar goodly hei'itage. 



20 OLD STATE IIOt'SE UE-DEDICATION. 

Not Avithout Thee would we come together. Obedi- 
ent to Thy voice do we remember tlie days of okl. 
It is our desire and prayer that by these renewals and 
restorations we may so strengthen the things that 
remain, and so bind together our best and most 
precious hopes, and our dearest memories, that Ave 
shall groAv thereby in all sweet humanities, and our 
city be, indeed, as a city set upon a hill Avhose light 
cannot be hid, AA'hose light shall shine in praise and 
Avorks that are just and merciful. 

We pray Thee that this ancient house may be for- 
ever a common possession, a common joy, and a 
common pride of all those Avhose homes and places 
of daily toil are centred about it, and may it be a 
memorial to them that they are citizens of no mean 
city. So may the Lord keep the cits'; so may its 
walls be salvation and its gates praise; and so for the 
abundance of righteousness and love Avithin its bor- 
ders, may all the walls that are builded by human 
hands be consecrated; and may this be to us at last, 
in the brighter and better and holier days, that city 
of our God, of Avhich it is Avritten, I saAV no temple 
therein: and for the light that shines upon all and 
upon the house may there be nothing uncommon or 
unclean. 

We pray this prayer unto Thee in His name Avho 
bids us render unto Caesar the things Avhich are 
Caesar's, and unto God the things Avhich are God's, 



OLD STATE FIOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 21 

and, in the words which He hath taught us, may we 
with one heart and one voice say unto Thee : Our 
Father wliich art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. 
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it 
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and 
forgive ns our trespasses as we forgive those that 
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; 
but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, 
and the jiower, and the glory, forever and ever. 
Amen. 

Alderman IIersey. — Ladies and gentlemen, 
perhaps to one member of the city government 
more than all others is due the credit of Avhatever 
success has attended the restoration of this Ijuilding. 
I allude to that member whose duty and pleasure it 
will be to address you on this occasion. It gives 
me ' great pleasure to introduce to you Williajni 
H. Whitmore, member of the Common Council 
from Ward 12. 



ADDRESS OF WILLIAM H. WHITMOEE. 



Fellow- 3Ieml)ers of the OUij Council: — 

We arc gathered here to-day to re-dedicate a build- 
ing ah-eady hallowed by the patriotic contests of 
previous generations. We are to strengthen a link 
in that chain of our history which connects those who 
resisted the despotism of the Stuarts with those who 
rebelled against the misgovernment of the mother 
country, and again with those who so lately fought 
for the preservation of the unity of the nation. We 
are to remember that we are henceforth the custo- 
dians not only of Faneuil Hall and the Old South, so 
universally known at the present day, but also of 
that older and still more revered spot, which, after a 
temporaiy neglect and decny, is now to stand pre- 
eminent among all the buildings in the land. 

I will endeavor to set forth, with due citation of 
authorities, the claims of the Old State House to be 
the spot most intimately associated with the history 
of liberty in this Commonwealth, and the right of the 
present building to assume to be, not the representa- 
tive of departed glories, but their actual and existing 
monument, — never obliterated, never changed in any 




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OLD STATE HOUSE EE-DBDICATION. 23 

essential degree, — as fit to-day as it was a centniy 
aaro to be the 2:lorious theatre of immortal events. 
, "Wlien our forefathers established this town they 
found that I^ature had apparently marked this spot 
for a centre of the new settlement. A little projec- 
tion, of which our State street is the ridge, divided 
the coves lying north and south. The land reached 
then as fir as Kilby street on the one side, and 
Merchants' Row on the other. On the north the 
Town Dock, now covered by Quincy Market and 
even by streets farther inland, reached to the slopes 
of Copp's Hill. On the south a cove, occupying 
Liberty square and its vicinit}', severed Fort Hill 
from approach, except on the line of Fj'anklin street. 
Directly in the range of this point the lofty height 
of Beacon Hill towered above the narrow plain, 
through which Washington street and Court street 
were to be stretched. Along the banks of these 
coves, and in the low lands between the three hills of 
Triraont, the houses of the little settlement were soon 
closely clustered. 

Here, on the site since occupied by Brazer's build- 
ing, was placed the first meeting-house, Avherein 
from the beginning the townsmen met to consult 
also upon temporal affairs. 

In front of the meeting-house was a lot set apart 
for a market- j)lace as early as 1G34, and definitely 
recognized as such in the Book of Possessions in 



24 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

1G15. It Avas, as it now is, tlie land enclosed bj the 
tAVO arms of the street, and its dimensions have never 
been lessened. On the southerly side of State street 
Capt. Kol^ert Keayne lived, on the corner of our 
Washington street, with two neighbors between him 
and the meeting-house, while Elder Leverett and 
two others owned the remaining lots. On the north 
side of State street John Cogan had built the first 
shop in Boston, on the corner of Washington street; 
and down the street were the lots of Rev. John 
Wilson and seven others. Opposite, on Washington 
street, John Leverett lived on the corner, with Rich- 
ard Parkei' south and west. 

Such were tlie first surroundings of this site,' until, 

' In Suffolk Dectls, iii., 38G, are the depositions tiilieu in July, KJGO, of 
AVilUam Colbron, James Penn, and James Johnson, in regard to the sale of 
the meeting-house lot to Ilobort Thompson, of London, now of Boston. The 
price paid was £1G0 sterling. The lot is described as follows : '■ being sixty 
sixo foote long abutting upon a lane that lieth betweene the same & land 
lately appertaining unto Thomas Leverett, elder of said church, deceased, but 
now belonging to laack Addington, on the north east side; sixty two foote 
broad abutting upon the great strccte wherein the Towno House standeth, on 
the north west side ; sixty four foote long abutting partly upon the great 
streete aforesaid and partly upon an ally tliat passoth betweene the same, & 
the house & land of Henry Phillips, butcher, on the south west side : &. 
being sixty foote broad abutting upon a lane that lieth between the same 
& the land lately belonging to Robert Scott, deceased, and now in tlie pos- 
session of his relict, on the south e.ast side." 

Thus we learn that the lot had a street or afl alley on each side. The 
north-west alley was Pudding Lane, now Devonshire street. The other 
alley-w.iys are still represented by Congress square. In 1708, in the list of 
streets, etc., we find: " The way Leadinge from y*^ Exchange in King Street, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 25 

in 1640, the meeting-house, " being- decayed and too 
small," was sold, and a new one was built on the site 
since occupied by Joy's Building. The site was in 
dispute, some wishing- to put it on the Green, where 
the Old South stands. "VVinthrop, i., 318, writes: 
" Others, viz., tiie tradesmen especially, who dwelt 
about the market-place, desired it might stand still 
near the market, lest in time it should divert the 
chief trade from thence." In the meeting-house 

passing by Mrs. Phillips into Water street, Pudding Lane. The way Lead- 
ing from King Street by the house of Isaac Addington, Esq', witli y" returne 
into Pudding Lane, Half Square Court." In 173G, Half-square court was 
the lane "from Maccarty's corner turning into i'udding Lane." In 1800, 
Half-square court was " the way round the buildings back of the Post 
Office." 

This original purchaser, Robert Thompson, was of the family ennobled as 
Barons Haversham. His son or grandson, William Thompson, of Elsham, 
county Lincoln, had a son Robert and a daughter Mary, wife of Humphrey 
Edwin, of St. Albans, county Herts. The only daughter of this last, Eliza- 
beth Edwin, married Thomas Corbett, of Darnhall. county Chester, and 
14th .January, 1802, Mr. and Mrs. Corbett sold to Thomas Dawes, of Bos- 
ton (Suff. Deeds, lib. 205, f. 10.j), their building on State street, called 
" Boston Buildings," and also the Thompson Farm, in Chelsea. August 21, 
182G (Suff. Deeds, lib. 312, f. 123), si.v of the Dawes' family sold an undi- 
vided half of a lot bequeathed to them by their grandfather, Thomas Dawes, 
to John Brazer, for $18,357.75. Later deeds show the purchase of the 
remainder at the same rate. There is a plan recorded with the deed, show- 
ing 2,388 feet in all, the lot having evidently been shorn of its original lines 
on Devonshire street and the corner on State street. Upon the death of 
Mr. Brazer, in 1828, this lot came to his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Brooks, who 
died in 18G7, and whose children own it. It is a remarkable fact, that a 
large lot of land on State street should have remained so long in two 
families. 



2G OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

" the general and great quarter courts are kept," 
wrote Lecliford in 1G40. That is to say, our incip- 
ient Legislature and prunitive courts of law were 
there held; as, of necessity, must have been con- 
vened all town-meetings. At that time there were 
about two hundred and fifty householders in Boston, 
representing a population of some fifteen hundred 
persons. Even in 1G85 only ninety votes were cast 
in town-meeting to elect deputies. (Sewall, i., 67.) 
For more than a quarter of a century from the set- 
tlement of the town this provision was sufficient. 
But in 165G Capt. Keayne died, and his will proved 
that for years he had been devising benefits for his 
fellow-townsmen. Keajme was one of the fouudei's 
of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. 
Ilis controversy, in 1G42, with Mrs. Sherman, about a 
stray pig, had brought the two houses of the 
magistrates and deputies to such disputes that they 
had resolved to sit in difierent chambers. (Winthrop, 
ii., IGO.) He was a merchant, and had been severely 
disciplined by the church for trying to make a profit 
on his ventures beyond the amount which the clei*gy 
thought proper. (Winthrop, i., 315.) We need 
not suspect Capt. Keayne of extortion, for theo- 
logians of that date had hardly escaped from the 
belief that all interest was usury and all piiofit a 
breach of Christian charity. Our merchant, how- 
ever, submitted to discipline, and was restored to 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 27 

popular favor, being elected to the Legislature 
and otherwise employed by the towii. For three 
years before his death he had been writing 
with his own hand that enormous will of one hun- 
dred and fifty-eight folio pages, now presei-ved on 
our probate records, by which he disposed of 
some four thousand pounds, — an enormous fortune 
in those days. Writing laboriously and care- 
fully, evidently desiring that his money should 
be wisely expended, Keayne planned various ways 
of aiding his fellow-townsmen. One-half of liis 
estate went to his son, the other to public uses. 
Three hundred pounds was for the Town House; one 
luindred for the Granary; fifty to the Free School; fifty 
to the poor of his church ; one hundred to Harvard 
College; somewhat to the Artilleiy Company; many 
legacies to relatives, friends, and servants, — a whim- 
sical, generous, pathetic will, full of a desire to do 
good according to the best of his light. 

But the town of Boston was to receive one gift 
which would endure even to this day. Three hun- 
dred pounds were to belaid out in building a conduit 
and a market-place, " with some convenient room or 
two for the Courts to meet in both in summer arid 
winter, and so for the Townsmen and Commissioners 
in the same building or the like, and a convenient 
room for a library, and a gallery, or some other hand- 
some room for the elders to meet in ; also a room for 



28 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

an annoiy." Thei'e was to be a room for merchants, 
masters of ships, and strangers, as vs^ell as townsfolk. 
All this, with much repetition and amendment, is set 
forth in the will; and the main part endured." 

In February, 1G56-7, the Selectmen began to take 
action respecting the legacy, and at the town-meet- 
mg in March, 1657, " Capt [Thomas] Savage, Mr 
[Anthony] Stoddard, Mr [Jeremy] Houchin and 
Mr Ed [ward] Hutchmson " were chosen a committee 
" to consider of the modell of the towne house to bee 
built, as concerning the charge thereof, and the most 
convenient place; as also to take the subscriptions 
of the inhabitants to propagate such a building; and 
seasonably to make report to a publick to^vnes 
meeting." Keayne had suggested Mr. [Thomas] 
Broughton and Mr. [John] Clarke, the chumrgeon, 
as good persons to devise a plan; but these others 
were trusted citizeiis. 

Altliougli no picture or plan of this first Town 
House has been preserved, we can get a very good 
idea of it from the papers pi-eserved by the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society. These documents were 
published in Mayor Wightmau's address at the laying 

' See Appendix I. for a copy of this will. His autograph is 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 29 

of the corner-stone of the present City Hall, and are 
reprinted in Appendix F of this volume. 

The committee of four, perhaps, reported to the 
town-meeting, for we find that on the 31st August, 
1657, Thomas Marshall, Samuel Cole (not Cobb, as is 
printed in the address), William Paddj^, Joshua 
Scottow, and Jeremy Hon chin (of whom all but 
Houchin were selectmen) , " having full power given 
us " to engage the town for the payment for the 
house, appointed Edward Hutchinson and John Hull 
commissioners to attend the work. These two last- 
named agreed with Thomas Joy and Bartholomew 
Bernad to erect the building for the £300 of the 
Keayne legacy, and a further sum of £100, to be 
subscribed. 

"We find, also, that, as the work progi*essed, it 
was evident that more money would be needed, and, 
therefore, some hiindred and four patriotic citizens 
contributed the sum of £307.11. As the final pay- 
ment was £680, evidently this list contains nearly, if 
not quite, all the donors. 

Th.e house was to be 36 feet wide and 66 feet long, 
set upon 21 pillars 10 feet high, projecting 3 feet 
over the pillars on each side. Moreover there was a 
walk on the top, Itt or 15 feet wide, with two turrets, 
and balusters and rails round the walk. There were 
to be two pair half-paced stairs, and turned stairs up 
into the walk. We infer that there were two rooms, 



30 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

one from each end chimney coming towards the 
centre, with a staircase at each end, and that one 
of these halls was subdivided into two rooms. Good 
floors, windows, mantel-j^ieces, gutters, and other 
details are specified, showing that the town intended 
to have a good building. 

Exactly when the first Town House was completed 
and occupied does not appear by the recoi-ds, though 
the contract with Joy and Bernad specifies that it was 
to be erected by June oO, IG.IS, and covered and 
shingled within six weeks later. 

INIay 19, 1658, the General Court passed the fol- 
lowing order (Eec, iv., p. 327) : — 

" In answer to the request of the Select men of Boston, the court 
judgeth it meet to allow uuto Boston, for and towards the charges 
of their town-house, Boston's proportion of one single country rate 
for this 3'ear ensuing, provided that sufficient rooms in the said 
house shall be forever free, for the keeping of all Courts, and also 
that the place underneath shall be free for all inhabitants in this 
jurisdiction to make use of as a market for ever, without paj'ment 
of any toll or tiihute whatsoever." 

The Selectmen of Boston voted March 28, 1659, 
that no one should smoke or bring a fire or match 
under or about the Town House except in case of 
military exercise; so that the building was probably 
then ready. 

Feb. 28, 1660-61, a settlement was oi'dered with 
Thomas Joy and partner " for the building of the 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 31 

towne-house stayre cases and Conduit" by paying 
therefor six hundred and eighty pounds, deducting 
what has been paid. 

Oct. 9, 1667, the Legislature ordered " the neces- 
sary full and suitable repair of the Town and Court 
House in Boston, founded hy the late Captain Robert 
Keayne" one-half of the expense to be paid by the 
country, one-quarter by the county of Suffolk, one- 
quarter by the town of Boston. May 31, 1671, they 
ordered, on the same terms, " by a firm whole wall to 
the bottom of the braces, with brick or stone to re- 
pair the Court or Town House, so that all inconven- 
iences by rotting the timbers &c. be prevented." 

Josselyn, who was here in 16G3, says, in his 
account printed three years latei", that there is in 
Boston " a Town House built upon pillars, where 
the Merchants may confer; in the Chambers above, 
they keep their monthly Courts." 

John Dunton, in 1686, merely repeats the same 
words. From items in the town records it seems 
that Richard Taylor hired the shop under the stairs 
at the west end of the ToAvn House in 1661, and in 
1669 he obtained an extension of his term for sixty- 
one years. In 1666 Robert Gibbs obtained a lease 
of the cellar under the Town House; and in 1664 
Thomas Lake and Hezekiah Usher seem to have 
been in possession of the east end of the cellar. In 
1678 Samuel Shrimptou bought out Lake's interest 



32 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

from his widow, aucl obtained an extension of the 
lease for thirty-nine years. " Oct. 28, 1G8G, let to 
John Hayward, notary, the small shop or room in 
the westerly end of the Town House, lately occu- 
pied by !Kathaniell Barnes, for 21 years at the rent 
of ten shillings annually." 

We may therefore safely assume that, as the 
building was raised on pillars, the lower floor was 
partly partitioned off for shops, leaving a large 
space for the daily exchange. As early as 1C64 
a bell was ordered to be rung at eleven o'clock 
every W'orking day, to give notice of the assem- 
bling there for one hour of merchants, strangers, 
and inhabitants. In l(i83 it was voted "that a 
note set up under the Town House ujion one of 
the pillars, concerning the price of wheat, shall be 
sufficient notice to the bakers to size their bread by, 
according to law." May 11, 1096, "agreed that 
the market appointed by law should be in and about 
the Town House, and be opened on August 11th, 
next." 

Upstairs w^e find that there Avere three rooms, 
one probably for the Governor and Council, and 
one for the Representatives; and natui'ally thei-e 
would be also some anterooms. Although the first 
building covered less ground than there is in the 
present lot, it was probably because there was 
more space at the east and west ends. The first 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 33 

house was 66 feet long, the present 110, but the 
extra si^ace was in the street. In ftict, the French 
map' by Franquehn, made m 1693, represents the 
space occupied by the Town House to be as large 
as the present ground. 

The other portions of Keayne's plans did not prove 
so permanent. In 1684 and in 1695 mention is made 
of the Town's Library; but it was perhaps lost in 
the fire, 1711. As to his Conduit, we know that it 
failed in some twelve years. It was doubtless to 
be constructed in imitation of the structures then 
common in England. " They are a kind of stone 
cage or cap, under cover of which the conduit pipe 
rises, to the top and then lets down its stream; 
sometimes openly (the cap being a cage), some- 
times unseen, to a reservoir near the bottom." ^ 
The waste-water was allowed to escape by paved 
gutters, or otherwise to seek the earth. Doubt- 
less Captain Keayne expected to utilize the springs 
near his house as a supply of water for daily use, 
and " especially in case of fire." But such open 
streams were unsuited to this climate ; and that feat- 
ui'e of English towns could not be imitated here. 
In March, 1672 (Town Records, ii., 66), it was 

^ A careful copy of this map is in our Public Library, and heliotypes there- 
from have been freely issued. 

* Prof. William Everett lias kindly furnished the above description from 
his observation in England. 



34 OLD STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

voted that, as the work "by the Providence of God 
hath not proved so useful as was expected and 
desired," by an agreement with tlie overseers of 
Keayne's will, "liberty was given to Mr. Nicholas 
Page to take away the bricks belonging to the 
place intended for a conduit at the end of the Town 
House, before his door, provided he immediately fill 
the place even with the ground about it." As Page 
had bought of the town its half of the new house, 
adjoining Keayne's old one, which K.'s overseers 
had given in payment of the legacy, it is clear that 
the conduit was planned to be on the south fork of 
State street, beside the Town House. 



The first building stood from 1G58 to 1711, when 
it was burned in a terrible conflagration. In it pre- 
sided Governors Endicott, Bellingham, Leverett, and 
Bradstreet, under the old chailer; Andros, under the 
orders of King James; and Pliips, Stoughton, Bello- 
mont, and Joseph Dudley under the new charter. 
Through many perils — from Indian foes, from 
English tyi'anny, and from domestic treachery — the 
settlement steadily increased in population and 
wealth during these fifty-three years. It is estimated 
by Shattuck that the population of Boston was, in 
A.D. 1680, fom- thousand five hundred persons; in 
A.D. 1690, seven thousand persons; in A.D. 1700, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 35 

six thousand seven hundred persons; in A.D. 1710, 
nine thousand persons. 

At one time, indeed, in 1G89, this Town House was 
the centre of a revokition. In April of that year 
the colonists, inspired by the -news that AVilliam of 
Orange had landed in England, took the desperate 
resolve to rebel agahist King James and his gov- 
ernor here. It was a rash venture ; but it succeeded. 
"Within the previous year Andros, a veteran soldier 
of large experience, had constructed on the neighbor- 
ing height a fortification, which gave its name to 
Fort Hill. He had royal troojas under his command, 
and a man-of-war was anchored off the shore. But 
the leaders of the people assembled at the Town 
House in Boston, supported by the bold and resolute 
freemen of the colony, and in a single day the royal 
authority was overthrown.^ It should be forever 
remembered that, although a like success in England 
at the same time secured the immunity of these Bos- 

' In Byfleld's Account, reprinted in the Andros Tracts, he states that 
Gov. Andros, having been captured at the Fort, was " conveyed to the 
Council-house, where Mr. IJradstreet and the rest of the Gentlemen waited 
to receive liim." Hutchinson, i., 3S1, says, " A long declaration was read 
from a balcony or gallery of the Townc House." Beside this there was a 
broadside issued, subscribed by Wait Winthrop, Simon Bradstreet, and thir- 
teen others, dated " at the Town House in Boston, April 18, ICS'J," stating 
to Gov. Andros that " We judge it necessary you forthwith surrender and 
deliver upthe Government and Fortification, to be preserved and disposed 
according to Order and Direction from the Crown of England, which 
suddenly is expected may arrive." 



3G OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

tonians, the actors here were then ignorant of that 
event, and for at least a month they were open and 
avowed rebels. Nor can it he doubted that the 
whole course of our history was immensely influ- 
enced by the fact that, when William and Mary 
ascended the throne, they found the colony of Massa- 
chusetts so far distinguished from other colonies as 
to have fought independently for its rights. This 
old Town House was the first shrine of liberty; and 
every subsequent act can be clearly shown to be the 
natural and logical consequence of that first uprising 
of a free people. 



As the centre of the town this old hall must have 
witnessed many stirring scenes. Unfortunately, 
luitil we reach the date of Sewall's invaluable Diary, 
we have no Avarrant for the details. 

Sewall (i., 138) notes, under date of May 17, 16SG, 
" General Court sits at one o'clock, I goe thither 
about 3. The Old Government draAvs to the 
JSTorth-side, Mr. Addington, Capt. Smith and I sit 

at the Table, there not being room 

Came also Capt. of King's Frigot Gov^ Ilinkly, 
Gov^ West and sate on the Bench, and the Room 
pretty well filled with Spectators in an Instant." 
May 18 he mentions a great wedding celebrated at 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 37 

Mr. Shrimpton's by Mr. Eandolph's chaplain, " when 
Prayer was had at the Town House." 

May 2(5, 1686, he notes that Mr. Eatdiffe and the 
Episcopalians asked to have one of the three 
churches to preach in. " That is denyed and he is 
granted the East-End of the Town House, 'where the 
Deputies used to meet, until those who desire his 
Ministry shall pi'ovide a fitter place." 

Dec. 20, 1686, Gov. Andros arrives, " lands at 
Gov"". Leverett's wharf about 2 P.M. when the 
President, &c., meet him, and so march up through 
the Guards of the 8 Companyes to the Town House 
where part of the Commission read." 

December 25, 1 686. " Governour goes to the 
Town House to Service Forenoon and Afternoon, a 
Red-Coat going on his right hand and Capt. George 
on his left." January 31, 1686-7. "There is a 
meeting at the Town House forenoon and afternoon: 
Bell rung for it, respecting the beheading Charles 
the First: Governour there." 

April 26, 1687. "Court sits. President in the 
Governour's seat, Mr. Stoughton at his right hand, 
Col. Shrimpton next him; Mr. Lynde at his left 
hand, Major Lidget next him." 

From these notes we hifer that before Andros's 
time the Deputies had the chamber on the east end. 
Afterwards the Supreme Court held its sessions 
in the room appropriated to the Governoi- and 



38 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Council, which probably was the same East Chamber, 
as the Deputies were no part of the government 
under the Andros administration. This room, hav- 
ing once become the proj)erty of the Governor and 
Council, seems to have remained in use by thcin 
until the Revolution. 

On May 14, 1692, Sir William Phips arrived, the 
first governor under the Second or Provincial Char- 
ter." Sewall writes (Diary, i., 3G0) : " Sir William 
arrives in the Konsuch Frigat: Candles are lighted 
before he gets into Town-house. Eight Companies 
wait on Him to his house, and then on Mr. Mather 
to his. Made no volleys because 'twas Satterday 
night." " Monday, May 16. Eight Companies and 
two from Charlestown guard Sir William and his 
Councillors to the Town-house w^here the Commis- 
sions are read and Oaths taken." Boston, at this 
date, had not far from one thousand houses and 
seven thousand inhabitants (Palfrey, iv., 136) ; but 
at the election of a representative m May, 1698, 



^Palfrey (Hist., iii., 500) tlius iloscribes the scene: " From far and near 
the people flocked into Boston ; the government, attended by the principal 
gentlemen of the capital and the towns around, passed in procession on 
horseback through the thoroughfares ; the regiment of the town and com- 
panies and troops of horse and foot from the country, lent their pomp to 
the show ; there was a great dinner at the Town House for the better sort; 
wine was served out in the streets ; and the evening was made noisy with 
acclamations, till the bell rang at nine o'clock, and families met to thank 
God at the domestic altar, for causing the great sorrow to pass away, and 
giving a Protestant King and Queen to England." 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 39 

when there was a spii'ited contest, only three hun- 
dred and eighteen votes were cast. (SeAvall, i., 
480.) 

Phips's administration lasted only two years and a 
half, and is foi-ever darkened by the shadow of the 
witchcraft delusion and its judicial mm'ders. Hap- 
pily for us, none of the sentences were pronounced 
in Boston; though at the last court held here 
one Mary Watkins, a servant, despite the ver- 
dict of the jury, was imprisoned by order of the 
court, and sold into bondage in Virginia. (Drake, 
Hist., 503.) Hutchinson (Hist., ii., 61) relates that 
Dame Mary Phips, the governor's wife, was ap- 
plied to in behalf of a woman held for trial for 
witchcraft. 

" The good lady, 'propria vlrtutc, granted and 
signed a warrant for the woman's discharge, which 
was obeyed by the keeper, and the woman lives still 
for aught I know." It is fair to conclude that the 
document was in the usual form, and was taken 
from the official papers in the govei'iior's chamber. 
"We may safely infer that in this building the iirst 
female governor exercised her rights, and we may 
rejoice that the usurpation was for the glorious pre- 
rogative of pardon. 

From !N^ovember, 1094, to June, 1702, the govern- 
ment was mainly in the hands of Lieut. Governor 
Stonghton, though for a year the Earl of Bellomont 



40 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

was the nominal governor. Just before the arrival 
of Bellomont, news was received of the rejection 
of several of our laws 1)}' the home government. 
Sewall (i., 49(5) thus describes the scene: "Drum is 
beat and Allowance and Disallowance of the Acts is 
published. Lieutenant Governor [Stoughton] and 
Council standing in the Gallery. Great many 
Auditors below." 

Sewall records (Diary, i., 458) , that on September 
8, 1G97, " the Governour and Council first meet in the 
Council Chamber, as it is now fitted with ceiling. 
Glazing, Painting, new Floor that brings it to a 
Level; New Hearth even with it." This meeting- 
was made noteworthy by the announcement by Col. 
Pierce that limestone had been discovered at iN^ew- 
bury, — a matter of the highest importance, as, up to 
that time, the colonists had been obliged to burn 
oyster-shells for lime. Nov. 14, 1698, a rate of 
£00 was ordered for the repairing of the Town 
House, and no other use. 

Another day of excitement in the old building 
must have been that one in July, 1699, when Captain 
William Kidd was examined by Lord Bellomont and 
his Council, charged with many notorious piracies. 
Research, which destroys so many illusions, shows 
us that the noted pirate was far from being so 
wicked or so bloodthirsty as fame reported, and 
certainly reveals a strong infusion of poltroonery in 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 41 

his character. The ranse, however, promptly re- 
corded of him : — 

" My name was William Kidd, 
As I sailed, as I sailed. 
And most wickedly I did. 
As I sailed." 

As an evidence of the various uses to Avhich the 
building was put, we find that in 1701, "because of 
the Rain and Mist," the election of captain of the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company was held 
in the Town House, when the choice fell upon Judge 
Sewall. " They call'd down the Council out of the 
Chamber and set their chairs below: Col. Pynchon 

gave the Staves and Ensign Drew 

out before Mr. Usher's, gave three volleys; drew 
into the Town House again." Then Rev. Mr. Pem- 
berton prayed, and the company escorted their 
commander safely home. So again in 1702, " rainy 
day, we exercise on the Town House in the Morn." 

On May 28, 1702, news arrived at Boston of the 
death of King William. 

" And at last the Gazette, containing the Proclaim- 
ing of the Queen came to hand. Then we resolved 
to proclaim her Majest}^ here. Regiment drawn up, 
and Life-Guard of House; Council, Representatives, 
Ministers, Justices, Gentlemen, taken within the 
Guard. Mr. Secretary, on foot, read the order of 
the Council, the Proclamation and Queen's Procla- 



42 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

rnatiou for contiuuing Commissions. Mr. Sheriff 
Gookiu gave it to the people. Volleys. Guns. 
Went into chamber to drink." (Sewall, ii., 56.) 

June 1 , 1703. " Town-meeting is held in the old 
Meeting-house because of the General Assembly; 
2 p.m. Voters two hundred and six." This entry of 
Sewall confirms our suspicion that the Legislatui'e 
had the first claim to occupy the building. In March, 
1706-7, the records show that the town meeting was 
held in the old meeting-house. 

In 1704: Captain John Quelch and five other 
pirates were tried here, and sentenced to be hung. 
The sentence was executed 'June 30. Sewall gives 
us at this time the following picture: "As the 
Governor [Dudley] sat at the Council-Table 'twas 
told him Madam Paige [his niece] was dead, lie 
clap'd his hands, and quickly went out, and 
return'd not to the Chamber again; but ordered 
Mr. Secretary to prorogue the Court till the IGth of 
August, which Mr. Secretary did by going into the 
House of Deputies." (Sewall, ii., 109.) 

Sewall records on February G, 1707-8 : " Queen's 
Birthday. I could not find it in my heart to go to 
the Town House, because hardly anything is pro- 
fessedly there done but drinldng Healths." 

1708-9, January 6. " Presently after Lecture, the 
Act of Parliament regulating Coin is published by 
Beat of Drum and Sound of Trumpet." (Sewall, ii., 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 43 

248.) Undoubtedly from the balcony of the Council 
Chamber. 

March 13, 1709-10. " General Town Meeting. Mr. 
Cotton Mather went to Prayer; I stood in the Lobby, 
then went into the Council Chamber. Constable 
— — — came to me and surprised me with telling me 
that I was Chosen Moderator. I went in, and they 
would have me sit on the Seat, which I did." (Sewall, 
ii., 275.) 

From this entry it seems that the town meetings 
were held in the Representatives' Hall, which could 
well hold the citizens, as the voters only numbered 
about two hundred. Other entries make it probable 
that the Supreme Court also used that room, the 
Council Chamber serving as a consultation room 
for the judges. 

In 1711 the town was much agitated by the 
arrival of some fifteen men-of-war and seven thou- 
sand troops destined for an attack on Quebec. 
There were abundant festivities and solemn ex- 
change of courtesies between the English and our 
local authorities. The ignominious failure of the ex- 
pedition was a sad blow to Massachusetts, although 
the loss of life was confined mainly to the ships of 
the British portion of the fleet. 

To add to the general depression, a great fire in 
Boston occurred " about 7 or 8 o'clock of the night 
between the 2d and 3d of October." " It broke out 



44 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

ill au old Tenement within a back Yard in Cornhill 
{I.e., our Washington street), near the First Meeting- 
house, occasioned by the carelessness of a poor 
Scottish "Woman (one Mary Morse), by using Fire 
near a parcel of Ocum, Chips, and other combustible 
Rubbish." This spot was in or near Williams' 
Court. " All the houses on both sides of Cornhill 
[Washington street] from School street to what 
is called the stone-shop in Dock-square, all the 
upper part of King street [State street] on the south 
and north side, together with the Town Hovise, and 
what was called the Old Meeting-House above 
it, were consumed- to ashes."" (Hutchinson, ii , 
200.) 

Thus ended, after half a century's use, the first 
Towni House which has stood on this spot. Of 
couise it was necessary to replace it at once ; and on 
the 17th of October the Selectmen of Boston ad- 
dressed the Legislature, asking its " Advice and 
Direction for the Restoring and Rebuilding of the 
House for those Publick Uses, and about the place 
where to set the same." ' 

A joint committee of four councillors and seven 
deputies, with Elisha Hutchinson, chairman, was at 
once appointed, who recommend that a new house 
be built " in or near where the Old Town House 
stood," th(; "breadth not to exceed thirty-six feet, the 



■■ See Ajipcndix B for copies of the acts, and other votes. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 45 

length so as to be convenient." " The charge to be 
borne the one half by the Province, the other half by 
the Town of Boston and Connty of Suffolk in equal 
Proportion." 

Accordingly, a new committee was appointed, viz. : 
Elisha Hutchinson and Penn Townsend, councillors, 
Addington Davenport, Samuel Thaxter and Capt. 
Phipps, deputies, to attend to the affair, with two 
persons to be added by the town of Boston. The 
town assented, and joined Thomas Brattle and 
"William Payne. 

March 12, 1711-12, the Legislature voted, as 
instructions to the committee, that the building be 
not more than one hundred and twelve feet nor less 
than one hundred and ten feet in length. ]S^ovember 
17, 1712, thej voted as instructions to the committee, 
" that they fit the East Chamber for the Use of His 
Excellency the Governor and the Honorable the 
Council, the Middle Chamber for the House, the 
West Chamber for the Superior and Inferior Courts." 
And "' that there be but two Offices below Stairs in 
the Province and Court House now Building in 
Boston, one for the Secretary, the other for the Reg- 
ister of Deeds in the County of Suffolk." 

Although \vc do not know who designed the brick 
building which speedily arose on the site, we can 
to-day inspect its sturdy walls and recognize the 
influence of the Queen Anne period. It is beyond 



4G OLD STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

controversy that the fire of 1747 and the various 
changes which have been made in the building, in 
no wa}^ affected the exterior Avails. We are to-day 
assembled in a building which dates back to A.D. 
1713, and we can form a correct idea of its original 
and ever continuing ajjpearance. 

In 1720 Daniel Neal printed his "Present State 
of IS'ew England," and thus describes the building in 
its earliest days: — 

" From the Head of the Peer you go up the chief Street of the 
TowB, at the upper End of which is the Towu House or Exchange ; 
a line Piece of Building, containing besides the Walk for the 
Merchants, the Council Chamber, the House of Commons, and 
another spacious Room for the Sessions of the Courts of Justice, 
the Exchange is surrounded vrith Booksellers Shops, which have a 
good Trade." (Neal, p. 587.) 

In 1708 it was computed that Boston had twelve 
or thirteen thousand inhabitants; in 1720, eighteen or 
twenty thousand. (Neal, 001.) The Coimcil con- 
sisted of twenty-eight members, the House of one 
hundred and three. (IsTeal, G05.) 

Dui'ing the eighteen months which were needed 
for rebuilding the Town House, the town meetings 
were held as follows: ISTov. IG, 1711, in Kev. Mr. 
Colman's meeting-house in Brattle street; March, 
1712, in the same; March, 1712-13, at the south 
meeting-house, and INIay 13, 1713, in the new Town 
House. Sewall records (ii., 387), May 28, 1713,— 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATIOIf. 47 

"All the Councillors are sworn except Major 
Brown, who was not in Town. In the afternoon 
I declar'd to the Council that Pi-ayer had been too 
much neglected formerly; we were now in a 'New 
House, we ought to Reform; without it, I would 
not be, there. Mr. Secretary assented, and I was 
desired to see it effected. May 29. Dr. Increase 
Mather prays Excellently in the Council." 

For some years at least this custom of beginning 
a session of the Council with prayer was con- 
tinued. 

It seems from ScAvall's notes that there was a large 
table in the council-chamber, at which the members 
sat, and that the Governor occupied the head of it.* 

' Oct. 15, 1713, Sewall records (ii., 402) : "I observ'd Two Leather Chairs 
were set at the end of the Council Table and the Elbow Chair set aside. 
But when Gen'. Nicholson staid not to sit down, tlicy were remov'd, and the 
Governor's Arm'd Chair took iilace again." 

Feb. 6, 1713-14. "I went to the Town House on the occasion of the 
Queen's Birthday. Mr. Bromfield .and I sat awhile in one of tlie windows, 
Table being full ; afterwards sat in." Later on that evening, one Mr, Net- 
maker, secretary to Gen. Nicholson, was drunk and disorderly in a tavern 
and Sewall ordered his arrest. On March 9th Sew.all was at a meeting of 
the Council. "Sat round a little Fire. I happen'd to sit nc.\t Gen'. Nich- 
olson. . . . Then with a Koarlng Noise the General said, ' I demand Justice 
against Mr. Sewall and Pemberton for sending my Secretary to prison 
without acquainting me with it I ' And hastily rose up, and went dovrn and 
walk'd the Exchange, where he was so furiously Loud, that the Noise was 
plainly heard in the Council-Chamber, the door being shut." 

Sept. 24th, 1715. The Governor comes to Town. Flagg [the messenger] 
warns [the Council to meet]. Governor sits bij the side of the Tulle facing 
to the South; Lt. Governor [Taller] in one of the South windows. The 



48 OLD STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

It is a fair inference that tliis table reached from the 
cast window towards the door, and if so it was in 
conformity to our New Enghmd custom, bj which the 
minister or otlier pi-esiding officer is so invariably 
placed in front of a window. 

To this council-chamber the deputies were sum- 
moned, and committees of that body were here re- 
ceived. At such confereuces the Governor was not 
allowed to take part, though on one occasion at least 
he remained in the room. There was a " closet," 
probably one of the anterooms ojoening from the 
chamber, to which the Crovernor could withdraw for 
pi-ivate consultation ;° and perhaps the other ante- 
room was needed for the accommodations of the 
twenty-eight councillors. 

It seems that in this chamber the Overseers of Har- 

Commissions were produced and Read, O.iths given. ... At length the 
Governor dictated to the Clerk to this purpose. Whether the Government 
was devolved on the Lieutenant Governor, the Commission of Gov^ Bur- 
n-ess nor .any copy of it, not beinj arrived. It was, nemine coniradiccnte, 
carried in the Negative." (Sewall, iii., 59.) 

' " Feb. 12, 1717-18. I .«alute Cousin Quincy in Council. . . . The 
Governour calls me into the Closet and tells me he would ra.ake me Cliief 
Judse." (Sewall, iii., IGS.) 

"Feb. 25, 1718-19. The judges meet p.m. in the Council Chamber, 
before the Meeting of the Council. . . . Then, in the Closet, voted it con- 
venient to have two Clerks." (Sewall, iii., 213) 

" Dec. 19, 1722. His Excellency took me aside to the Soutli-East win- 
dow of the Council Chamber to speak to me. . . . Dec. 21. The Governor 
took me to the window again looking Eastward, nc.vt Mrs. Phillips', and 
sp.ake to me again." (Sewall, iii., 315.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 4.9 

yard College met at times, as did the Commissioners 
of the Society for propagating the Gospel among the 
Indians, March 27, 1729 (Sewall, iii., 395). Once, 
March 29, 1720 (Sewall, iii., 248), the "Inspectors 
of the Grammar Schools " of Boston met there. The 
chamber was also used as a consultation room for the 
judges.'" Notwithstanding the order to construct a 
west I'oom for the courts, it is very doubtful if this 
were really done. In 1717 Sewall speaks of a trial 
held in the old meeting-house opposite, while sentence 
was pronounced in the court chamber." Was not this 
the chamber of the Great and General Court, that is, 
our House of Representatives? When the fire'of 1747 
took place, mention is made of the " Council Cham- 
ber, the Chamber of the House of Representatives 
and the Aiiartments thereof, in that Story." Another 
account speaks of "the Council Chamber" and "both 
the Lobbies," and also the " Offices kept in the Upper 
Story " ; but it says " the County Records and Papers 
belonging to the Inferior Court being deposited in an 

•""Feb. 13, 1718-19. All the Judges desired to be at the Governor's 
house at 5 p.m. Met accordingly. . . . The Judges went to the Council 
Chamber, &c., &c." 

""May 9, 1717. Jeremy Plienix arraigned in the Court Chamber. 10. 
Try'd in the old Meeting-house. Mr. Auckmooty was Counsel for the 
Prisoner and had family with him in the Fore-seat of the Women, though 
he be bound over for notorious words against the Government." " May 
11th. I pass'd Sentence upon Phenix, the Chief Justice being absent. 
This was done in the Court Chamber." (Sewall, iii., 130.) 



50 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

Office upon the lower Floor, were most of them pre- 
served." 

There is proof that the Council Chamber was the 
scene of festivities on state occasions, such as the 
birthday of the sovereign or his accession, the arrival 
of a new governor, etc.'- Here also were held jnib- 
lic I'unerals, as in the case of Fitz-John Winthrop.^' 
From the balcony, at the east end, it was customaiy 
to jiroclaim the laws, with sound of trumpets and 

"October '>, 1710, Gov. Slivite arriveil in Boston. "Ministers met the 
Governor a little before he got to tlie Town House. Col. Joseph Dmlley 
nearer, anjj went up and sat with the Council. Col. Tailer met the Governor 
at the Stairs, anJ took place of Lt.-Gov. Dummer : and when Dummor was 
sworn, gave him the place. (Jov. [Shute], Lt. Gov. [Dummer] laid tlieir 
hands on the Bible, and Kissed it very industriously." (Sewall, iii., 10."). ) 

The return of Gov. Shirley, Nov. 7, 174.j, after the .surrender of TjOuIs- 
burg, was here celebrated (S. G. Drake, Hist., p. 021), and so, also, on June 
24, 1710, was tlie arrival of Gen. Pepperell and .Vdiniral Warren. (.)n the 
18th Sept., 174!), the indemnity voted by Parliament arrived, amountinjj to 
£18:!, 049. At that time a pound sterling (.quailed eleven pounds old tenor, 
or thirty shillings new tenor, so great had been the depreciation of paper 
money. 

'■"•March 2?>, 1714-I."). Mr. .\ddington [the late Secretary] buried from 
the Council Chamber; 'twas a sad spectacle." (Sewall, iii., 41.) 

"Nov. 14th, 1717. Attended the Funeral of Major-General Winthrop. 
The Corpse was carried to the Town House the night before : now buried 
from the Council Chamber. Bearers, his Excellency the Governor [Shute], 
Gov. Dudley: ijt. Gov. Dummer, Col. Taylor: Col. Elislia Sewall, Saumel 
Sewall, Scarfs and Kings. The Keginient attended in Arms. Mr. John 
Winthrop led tlie Widow. 'Twas past five before we went. The Streets 
were crowded with people: was laid in Gov. Winthrop's Tondj in Old 
Burial I'lace." (Sewall, iii., 147.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 51 

beat of drums ;'^ and doubtless from so convenient 
an elevation, loyal addresses were delivered to the 
assembled townsmen on occasion. 

As it hapjjens, we know much less of the arrange- 
ment of the Representatives' Ilall at this period, as 
our chief authoi'ity, Sewall, was a councillor and 
judge. "\Ve know that the number of deputies was 
one hundred and three in 1720, and as new towijs 
were corporated, the number rose to about one 
hundred and twenty-five. 

The speaker was annually chosen, and the choice 
submitted to the governor, who rarely negatived. 
In 1705, Thomas Oakes; in 1720, Elisha Cook; in 
1739, Paul Dudley; in 1741, Samuel Watts; in 17(3G, 
James Otis, were respectively chosen and set aside. 
The House also elected a clerk, but the office was 
generally continued from year to year. 

The forms of the House were probably copied 
from those of Parliament, the council figuring as 
our House of Lords. The will of tlie Governor 
was signified by messages or speeches; the wishes 
of the deputies by committees and by messages. 
Hutchinson saj-s (ii., 259), apropos of a quai-rcl be- 
tween Governor Dudley and the House aljout the 

'•" "Feb. 4th, 1714-15. Drew up a Proclamation. . . . Piiblish'd it by 
Beat of Drum. Paper was sullied with tlie R.-iin. Mr. Hiller read it out of 
tlie Council-Cliamher Gallery. Col. Checkk-y, .Major Fitch, Capt Ahijali 
Savage, &c., present." (Sewall, iii., 38.) 



52 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

power of adjournment, " It has always been the prac- 
tice of the House, before and shiee, upon a message 
fi-om the Governor, to stoj) all l)usiness and go up 
without delay." It seems also that divisions of the 
House were made by going to the north and south 
sides.^" AVe infer from this tliat the speaker sat at 
the west end, facing the main dooi's, and that 
the deputies were marshalled by him on either 
hand. 

The town records contain but very little informa- 
tion in regard to the Town House from 1711 to 
1747. 

The following items are all that have been gleaned 
by an examination of the indices to the volumes. 

Sept. 25, 1716, the selectmen, learning that a sale 
of a ship had been appointed by the Coiu't of 
Admii'alty " at the place where the Court is held,''' 
voted that " the management of a Publick sale in the 
Town House is forreign from the declared Intentions 
in Erecting thereof, and that such a President may 
be of 111 Tendency." 

April 27, 1719, "Mr. John Flagg is directed to 
cleanse the Windows of the Town House." 

'■^ " June llitli, 1717. Cuunril dochircd that Cambriil^e is tlie Shire-town 
for Jliddlescx." " 14. Tlie Deputies Concur. Could not tell by lifting up 
tliu Hands, were fain to divide tlie House. They for Cambridge went to the 
Nortli siile, tliey for {'harlestown to the Soutli. Caniliridite Iiad 41), Charles- 
town 41, as Brotlier Nortliend, one of the Monitors, informed me." (Sewall, 
iii., 132.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 53 

1717-1718. Beiijainiu Bagnald agrees to make a 
Town Clock "and if desired he will make the same 
to go as an eight day Clock m the place Avhere it 
now stands." April 25, 1735. Bagnald is to take 
care of the Town clock at the Old Meeting House, 
for one year, for £'10. 

Feb. 13, 1733-4. The selectmen voted "that to- 
morrow at three of the clock the select men meet at 
the Town House to view the small arms lodged in 
the Town's Armoury, and that Mr. Treat, gunsmith, 
be ordered to attend and assist at the view." Ac- 
cordingly, Messrs. Treat and Miller, gunsmiths, 
" were directed to proceed with all the expedition 
possible to the cleaning the arms, and putting them 
in order for us, when occasion shall require." 

Feb. 25, 1733^. " Voted that speedy care be taken 
to fit up a proper office for the Town Clerk, for 
reposing and securing his books, and that it be in 
part of the Green Chamber." 

July 13, 1736, the selectmen voted "to repair the 
balcony at the east end of the Town House, fronting 
King st." 

Aug. 27, 1736, voted also "to order the new paint- 
ing the sun Dials on the Town House, and to clear 
the gutters and water-spouts belonging to it." 

June 1-1, 1738. They voted " to put a good and 
substantial post at each corner of the westerly end 
of the Town House to prevent damage ])y carts." 



54 ' OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

July 20, 1738, "to take care that the easterly 
stair.s of the Town House be repairi'd." 

Oct. 31, 1739. They leased for one year, for £30, 
to Joseph Savell, wine cooper, two cellai-s under the 
Town House lately occupied l)y Jonathan Williams 
and James Townsend: viz., one at the south-west cor- 
ner and the other at the north-east corner. In 1741 
these were let respectively to Samuel Wentworth and 
John Gooch. Dec. 24, 1740, John Buttolph leased a 
cellar there, formerly occupied by his father, for £22. 

Aug. 3, 1743, "the east end of the Town House 
to be put in repairs and other necessary repairs 
within side." 

Sept. 5, 1744, " voted to repair the chimneys in the 
Town House." 

In this chambei-, from 1711 to 1747, presided as 
Governor, Joseph Dudley, William Tailer,^^ Samuel 
Shute, William Dummer, Jonathan Belcher and 
AVilliam Shirley, all upright and worthy men, but all 
of them so hampered by restrictions from the home 
government, as to be frequently involved in disputes 
with the representatives of the people. During this 
period the population increased steadily from eleven 
thousand in 171.") to seventeen thousand in 1744, 
though after the last date it remained stationary or 
slightly decreased. 



"Tailor ami DuiiimiT were Lieutenant Governors, actin;? in the place of 
the Cidvernors. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 55 

It was in this chamber that tliere was iDhmncd, 
in 174G, the military enterprise whicli was tlie 
proiulost boast of our i^rovincial history. In Janu- 
ary of that year Gov. Shirley laid before the 
Legislature, under a pledge of secrecy, his jirojeet 
of capturing Louisburg from the French, by means 
of 2^'"ovincial troops only. On January 25 the 
consent of the House was carried by a single 
vote. William Pepperell, a member of the Council, 
was given command, and l)y April 1 our troops 
had arrived at Canso. The fortunate arrival of 
Admiral Warren, with a considerable fleet, was 
one of the many lucky accidents which tui'ued 
this quixotic scheme into a glorious success. On 
June 17 the fortress surrendered, and the " Gib- 
raltar of America" became our prize. 

It was a splendid victory, for it gave assurance 
to England that a new military power had arisen 
in her colonies, and one thus far entirely loyal 
to the crown. As Palfrey says, ^'As things 
turned out, it is not too much to say that the 
capture of Louisburg gave peace to Europe." 

It was not until the following year that Pep- 
perell was able to receive the deserved honors 
which his countrymen were ready to shower 
upon him. 

The Boston Evening Post, for Monday, June 
30, 1740, describes the arrival, on the preceding 



56 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Tuesday, of liis Majesty's Ship " Chester," of 50 
guns, bringing Admiral Peter Warren and Sir 
William Pepperell. The Governor met them at 
Castle AVilliam, and, landing at Long wharf about 
five o'eloek, " they Avere received and congratulated 
by the Honourable Gentlemen of his Majesty's 
Council and House of Kepresentatives, and being 
attended by his Excellency's Company of Cadets 
under arms, made a handsome procession to the 
Comicil Cliamber." 

Then the Speaker and the House proceeded to 
the Council Chamber, where a biief address was 
made to "Warren and Pepperell, wlio as briefly 
replied. Later a committee of the House Avas 
appointed to congratulate Brigadier General Samuel 
Waldo, " on his safe retui-n to his native country." 

It was from the veterans of the French wai-s 
of this period that the heroes of the war of In- 
dependence were drawn. But for the maitial 
spirit aroused by these campaigns, and the lessons 
of military science therein taught, our foi'efathers 
would have been but an undisciplined mob in 
1775. To give one example: Col. Richard Grid- 
ley, Avho connnanded the artillery at Louisburg, 
thirty years later, ti'aced and constructed the 
battery on Bunker's Hill. 

In Xovember, 1747, the Town House was the 
centre of another upiising. Commodore Iviiowles 



OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 57 

was in command of a fleet lying off the harbor. 
Having lost some deserters, he sent a press-gang into 
the harbor, seizing sailors from the ships, and even 
landsmen from the whai'ves. There was at once an 
outburst of jDopular indignation, in which all ranks 
joined. " As soon as it Avas dusk, several thousand 
people assembled in King street, below the Town 
House, where the General Court was sitting. Stones 
and brick batts were thrown through the glass into 
the Council Chamber. The Governor [Shirk^y], 
however, with several gentlemen of the Council and 
House, ventured into the balcony " (Hutchinson, ii., 
432), and after silence was obtained addressed the 
assemblage. He promised to try to obtain the 
release of the townsmen ; ]jut the crowd was not to 
be thus pacified. For tliree days the contest con- 
tinued, the people having seized some of the officers 
from the fleet as hostages, and the commodore 
threatening to boml>ard the town by way of reprisal. 
Finally the Legislature interposed with promises to 
both sides ; the impressed men were liberated and the 
squadron sailed, to the great relief of all in authority. 
On Wednesday, December 9, 174:7, the ToAvn 
House was greatly injured by a fire. The following- 
extract from the newspapers will explain the extent 
of the loss : — 

" Yesterday iiioriihig between & 7 o'clock we were exceedingly 
surprised by a most tcrrilile Fire, wliicli brolie out at tlie Court 



58 (n>l) STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

House in this Town, wliert'liy that spacious and beautiful linilding 
except the bare outward Walls, was entirely destroyed. As the 
Fire began in the middle or second Story, the Records, Books, 
Papers, Furniture, Pictures of tiie Kings and Queens, &c., which 
were in the Council Chamber, the Chamber of the Mouse of Repre- 
sentatives and the Apartments thereof, in that Story, were con- 
sumed ; as were also the Uooks and Papers in the Oliices of the 
upper Story : Those in the Oliices below were mostly saved. In 
the Cellars which were hired b}- several [lersoiis. a great quantity 
of Wines and other Liquors were lost. Tiie publick Damage 
sustain'd by this sad Disaster is inexpressibly great and the Loss 
to some particular Persons, 'tis said will amount to several Thou- 
sand Pounds. The Vehemence of the Flames occasion'd such a 
great Heat as to set the Roofs of some of the opposite houses on 
Fire notwithstanding they had been covered with Snow, and it was 
extinguished with much DifHculty. How the Fire was occasion'd, 
whether by Defects in the Chimney or Hearth as some think, is ■ 
uncertain." — Boston Weekly 2i'eics Letter, Thursday, December 10, 
1747. 

The aeeoiiiit in Ur' lioston Evening Post, lur the 
fourteenth of December, adds: - 

" The fine Pictures and other Furniture in the Council Chamber 
were destroyed as were also the Books, Papers and Records in 
!)Otli the Lobbies, and those iir the Offices kept in the upper Story ; 
but the Count}' Records and Papers belonging to the luferiour 
Court being deposited in an Office upon the lower Floor, were 
most of liiem preserved." 

The .same paper prints the foHowing extracts 
from the Joarnal of the House of Representatives : — ■ 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 59 

"12 December, A.D. 1747. 

" Upon a motion made aud seconded, 

" Resolved, that the House now make particular Enquiry how 
the hite Fire in tlie Court House was first discovered, and h\ wliat 
Means it was occasioned. After examining the Door-keeper and 
receiving a particular account of the Time and Circumstances of 
his leaving tlie House the Evening before, and enquiring of tlioso 
Gentlemen who earlj' discovered the Fire. 

" Resolved, That it appears to tlie Satisfaction of this House, that 
the late Fire which consumed the Court House, proceeded from the 
Wood-work under the Hearth taking Fire, and that the Fire first 
broke out in the Entry-way between the Council Chamber and the 
Representatives Room, and from thence went up the Stair Case, 
and through the Roof, and continued until the House was con- 
sumed." 

The following' letter of Secretary Willard to 
Christopher Ivilby ami William Bollan, agents of the 
province in London, is copied from vol. 1 of the 
" Records of Plymouth County," giving the "Acts 
of Commissioners of the United Colonies of I^ew 
England," edited by David Pulsifer: — 

"Boston, Dec'r 21, 1747. 
" Gentlemen I am now to give you the sorrowful News of the 
grievous & surprizing Rebuke of Divine Providence on the Gov- 
ernm'nt of this Province in the Destruction of the Court House by 
Fire which happened in the Morning of the ninth Instant. It was 
generally concluded to have begun in the Floor under the chimneys 
of the Council Chamber & House of Represeut'ves & was not 
discover'd till it was greatly increased ; All the Books of the Gen- 
eral Court, Govern'r c^ Council & House of Reiireufves there in 



60 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

the House were wIkjIIv lost without saving one & all tlie Books of 
Commiss'ns and other Instnun'ts as well from llie Crown as the 
Governm't of the Province with most of ye original Papers are 
likewise consumed." 

The General Court wa.s offered the use of Faneuil 
Hall, but was aceonimodated for the few days 
remaining in the session at the Koj'al Exchange 
tavern, kept by Lnke Vardy, on the west corner of 
our present Exchange and State streets.^' 

It seems that, as in L711, the expense of the repairs 
was paid, one-half by the Province, one-quarter each 
l)y the town of Boston, and the county of Suftblk. 
The expense v/as £o,70o lis. id. lawful money. 
Whatever plans were made for this restoration, it 
would seem that the exterior walls at least were not 
touched. (See Appendix C.) 

Fortunately, as in XeaPs case, in 1720, we have 
a description of the new building from one who 
saw it in its freshness. Capt. Francis Goelet (whose 

'^ Till! nitlKT churlish vote uf tlie Si'k'ctiiK'n, as yiviTi bulow, aiay 
I'xphihi the disinclination of the Governor to accept the offer : — 

Dec. It'}, irt". Voted "tliat liberty be and hereby is granted to his 
E.xcellency tlie (iovernour and the Honorable his Majesty's Council to 
improve the Chamber in Kaneuil Hall, the Selectmen usually set in to do 
business, when tliey sliall have occasion tlicrefor until they can be better 
provided : and tliat the Honorable .Tosiah Willard, Esq'''^. Secretary be 
allowed to make use of the OIHi'c nmler the stairs in Faneuil Hall which 
hath been inprovcil for tlie Naval OlJieer, until better provided, he paying 
the same rent Mr. Overing agreed for, to commence the IS"", instant." 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 61 

journal is printed in the JST.E Historical and Genea- 
logical Register for 1870, p. 72) thus describes it 
in the autumn of 1750 : — 

" They have also a Town House, built of Brick, situated in 
King's street. It's a very Grand Brick Building, Arcli'd all , 
Kound, and Two Storie Heigh, Sash'd above ; its Lower Pait is 
always Open, design'd as a Change, tho' the Merchants in Fair 
AVealher make their Change in the open Street at the P^astermost 
End. In the up[ier Story are the Council and Assembly Cham- 
bers &c. It has a neat Capulo, sash'd all round, and which on 
rejoyciug days is Elluminated."'" 

Capt. Goc'let mentions that on October 30th, 
His Majesty's Birth-day, he " went at noon with 
Capt. Wendell to the Councill Chamber in the 
Towne Honse, where [he] drank the Loyall Toasts 
witli the Lieutenant Governor, Councill," etc. 

By the records of the House it appears that 
Dec. 12, 1752, there was paid £6 13s. 4d. to Moses 
Deshon " for the arms of the Colony which he has 
carved, and put up in the House of Representatives." 

By the l)ill of the jiainter in 1773, it seems that 
the Colony arms still remained, while the King's 
arms, also then paid for, were probably in the 
Council Chamber. The historic Codfish Avas also 

" Janj' 17, 17-19-50 " voted that tlio Engine under the care of Mr Thomas 
Reed be removed to tho cellar under the Town House as soon as may he, 
and that Mr Cooke be desired to get a Platform Laid, and what else may 
be necessary to be done for the same." — Sclectnien's Becords. 



62 OLP STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

jiiontioued, and various pictures, of which the only 
one named is that of Gov. Burnet. 

Ver}- sti'ang'ely, it api)ears l:ty the "Boston Post 
Boy" of June IGth, 17G6, that a g-aller}- was put in 
the Representatives' Hall, tliough it is liard to imagine 
where space was found for it." Chandeliers, of 
course, hung- in each hall, and the desk of the Clerk 
or Speaker of the House is still preserved by the 
Massachusetts Historical Society."" 

When the work of the restoration was commenced 
last year, it was found that the fi'aming of the 
timbers was such that there must have been a 
circidar stairway in the ])\ace now occui)ied by it, 
from the first floor to the halls, and that the landings 
must have jiresented their present form. 

The sann! investigation showed that the IkCi^re- 
sentatives' Hall had its easterly end curved, while 
the Council Chamber was square. These indications 
coincide with a description jjublished in 171)1, when 
the halls were occupied by the Lcgislatiu'e of the 

"Hutchinson says (iii. IGG), under date of 17G7, that the House " liad caused 
a gallery to be built and opened, that all persons inclined to it, might hear their 
debates; and a speech, well ada]ited to the gallery, was oftentimes of more 
service to the cause of lilierty than if its p\irposes had been confined to the 
members of the house." 

-" Altlioui^li di'scribed as tlu5 Speaker's desk, it seems almost impossible 
that it could have been so used. The balusters in the new stairway are copied 
from those in (iov. Shirley's honse, still standing in Roxbury. .Vs he was the 
governor at the date of tlie rebuilding, in 1747, no better exemplars could be 
desired. 




Oi.ij SiAii. lloi -1 IN IT'.ll. I From tlic M;issiicliuselts .Maya/iiic. ) 



OLD STATE HOUSE P.E-DEDICATION. 63 

State, and when, apparently, no changes had been 
made. The 3Iaiisachusetts Magazine for August, 
1791, gives a south-west view of the building, i.e., 
one taken from the AVashington-street end, and the 
following description is added: — 

"The State House is an elegant brick building, standing at the 
head of State Street, one mile and 297 yards from the fortification. 
It is 110 feet in length and tliirty-eight in breadth. The founda- 
tions of the present walls were laid A.D. 1712, the former State 
House having been reduced to ashes in the great fire of the pre- 
ceding ycsiv. The iutei'nal part of this building again experienced 
the desolating flamj in 17-t7, when a vast number of ancient books 
and early records, together with a collection of valuable papers, 
were destroyed, and to the ravages of this cal-.imity we may attrib- 
ute the imperfect accounts that are to be obtained of the first and 
second building. The ascent to the lower floor, as fronting the 
Long wharf, is by an elevated flight of large stone steps, railed 
round with neat iron balustrades. There are three other entrances : 
one at the opposite end, facing to Cornhill, and the other two in 
the opposite centres of tiic length. Tlie Clerks of the Supreme 
Judicial Court and Court of Common Fleas hold their offices 
upon the first floor, which also serves in bad weather as an 
exchange for the mercantile part of the community. A range 
of Doric pillars sup^iort the floors of tlic second story, which is 
destined for tlie accommodation of the (ieneral Legislature. The 
Senate Chamber is thirty-two feet square and fifteen feet in 
height, furnished with a convenient lobby for committees to 
transact business in. The Representatives' Chamber is fifty-seven 
and a half feet in length," thirty-two in breadth, and the same 

" This figure, fifty-seven and one half feet, is an iinpossibility, being more 
tlian une-luilf the lengtli of the building. But thirty-seven ami one-half 



64 OLD STATE IIOUSK KE-DEDICATION. 

height as the former, with a well-oonstrueted lobby. The third 
or upper storj' is imin'oved by different committees during the 
session, and has an East, West and South lobby ; beside several 
apartments for piililick papers and records. On the centre of the 
roof is a tower, consisting of three stories, finislied according to 
tlie Tuscan, Dorick and lonick orders complete, and from thence 
is a line prospect of the Harbor and adjacent Country." 

The painter's bill" of 1773 also inentioiis the Lion 
and the Unicorn which crowned the east end of the 
exterioi-, the carved corner-pieces on the west front, 
the balcony and pediment in front at the main 
window of the Conncil Chamber, and the steps, 

fi.'et would reach exactly to the line of the curved end of tlie liall as sliown 
on Kogers' plans and now reconstructed. Evidently the writer put his notes 
of tlie measurements in figures, and either he or his printer mistook thirty- 
seven and one half for fifty-seven and one half. The error really confirms 
the exactness of the record. 

-'*The following interesting docnment is printed from the original in the 
collection of Mellen Chamberlain, Esq., of the Boston Public Library: — 
1773. Province Massachusetts Bay to Tho*. Crafts, Jun. Dr. 

To painting State House, Viz. 

To paints Council Chamber Loby, &c,, 402 y.ards @ 9''., L5,, 1.. G 

To Ditto Representatives Ditto, 4'2(! yards @ 9''., ir>..19.. G 

To my self & 2 hands, 2 Days and half, t.aking down & ^ 

putting up Pieturs in Council & Representatives > 1..17.. G 

Chambers @ 5/, J 

To painting & Gilding Kings .Vrms, 

To Ditto Ditto Colonies D", 

To Ditto Codfish, 

To Ditto & Gilding Dial, East End, 

To Ditto Bricks as p' Agreement, 

To Ditto lower floor, p'' Ditto, 

To Ditto Stair Cases, 2U8 yards @ 9''., 7 . . Hi . • 



10. 


. 1). 





i. 


. (1. 





0. 


.15. 




3. 


.10. 





47. 


. 0, 





14. 


. t . 


4 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 65 

which, for a time, reached from the first floor dowii 
State street.^* 

These features have all heen reproduced in the 
restored building. It was, indeed, a question whether 
or not to restore the royal arms iq^on the east end, 
but a feature so distinctive, architecturally, could not 
be well omitted. Happily, no one will to-day misun- 
derstand the feeling with which we replace this me- 
— « 

May To 4 Haniis, Cleaning & scraping D"., 1 day @ 5/, 
25"' To painting Bclcony & roJcmint over it, SO yards @ IC^. , 
To Ditto 10 Lutlicrin Windows @ 8/, 
To Ditto 8 Cants, 30 yards @ 10''., 
To Ditto 2 Carved Corner Pieces, 
To Ditto Lyon & Unicorn, 

To Ditto 3 Pediments over Doors, 30 yards @ 10''., 
To Ditto 54 Window frames, very Dry, @ 4/, 
To Ditto 1442 squares sash @ 12''., 
To Ditto 4 Ox Eye Window frames @ 1/, 
To Ditto Mondilion Cornisli outside, IflO yards @ 10''., 
To Ditto Trunks, 50 Yards @ lO'i., 
To writing Gold Letters over Doors, 
To 2 Hands half day, bringing Picturs from Govi^ 

puns up, 
To paints 2 Doz Draws, 

To Ditto Rails down front Steps, 4 hands 2 days. 
To cleaning Gov Burnets Picture & Gilds frame, 

60 yards painting short cliarg'' @ 9''., 

£173 .. 8 ..10 
" These steps are in the picture painted in 1801, owned by the Historical 
Society, but were removed before the view in 1821 was taken. They are 
in the view of 1785 also, and are mentioned in 17'J1. 



1 . 


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. 


I., 3 . 


. G . 


. 8 


4 . 


. . 


. 


1 . 


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. 


1 . 


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. 


1 . 


. 8 ., 


. 


1 . 


. 5 . 


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10 . 


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12 . 


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£171 . 


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60 (»LU STATE HOUSE EE-DEDICATION. 

mento of oui* colonial days, — a recognition merely of 
the facts of history, neither foi-getful of the protec- 
tion which the mother country once extended, nor 
boastful of the change which has given us a national 
eoat-of-arms, a national flag, and a supreme govern- 
ment, at least equal to those which we renounced a 
century ago.-* 

It is certain that pi-ior to the fire in 1747, the town 
had ceased to reg'ard the Town House as its partic- 
ular ])ride. In 1740 Peter Faneuil had offered to 
the town a building for a market and a Town Hall, 
and though it was accepted only l)y a vote of 307 
against oGO, the work Avas accomplished. On the 
loth September, 1712, the first town-meeting was 
held there, and Faneuil Hall was solemnly so entitled. 
(S. G. Drake, Hist. Boston, p. 611.) On October 
6, 1742, " in conformity with a vote of the Town for 
removing tlie Town's Books and papers to Faneuil 
Hall, voted that the Town Clerk move said Books 
and papers belonging to the Town, forthwith, and 
that Mr. Savell provide Coal for the selectmen at 
tlieir meeting there on Wednesday next." 

The first meeting of the selectmen there was on 
October 13, 1742. Fi-om this time therefore Faneuil 



-' In Jolivoring this address the words "royal arms " were used, and are 
tlicrcfore retained. Evidence will be found in Ajjpendix T) to justify the 
opinion that the Ijion and Unicorn were the supporters to tlie Province 
eiiat-of'-arnis, and tluit tliey figured here in that capacity. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 67 

Hall became the Town Hall, and the building- on 
State street beeanie more especially the place for the 
Legislatui-e and Courts. 

One other vote of the selectmen at this time may 
be reproduced as showing the dissatisfaction of the 
town : " May 16, 1744. In consideration of the 
difficult circumstances of the Province, especially of 
the Town of Boston, and the little advantage in 
cleaning the glass at the Town House, voted that 
that expense and charge be saved for the present 
year." 

A brief account of Faneuil Hall and its vicissi- 
tudes will be found in Appendix E. 



Having thus considered the history of the walls of 
this building, let us review the scenes which took 
jjlace therein. During the administration of Shirley 
(1741-1757), and of Pownall (1757-1760), the 
colony was undoubtedly loyal. The great expendi- 
tures made by England to carry out the favorite wish 
of the colonists, by the overthrow of the French 
power in America, had not only pleased but enriched 
the sea-board colonies. Many of our citizens served 
with credit in the various armies which attacked 
Canada; many others had served in the navy or the 
transport service, and Boston especially had become 
accustomed to the presence of English troops and 



68 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICxVTION. 

Crown officials. Shirley had identified himself with 
the colony, had built a house here and reared a 
family auiid Bostonian surroundings. His ardor in 
military affairs led him to be less strenuous in smaller 
civil matters, and he had acquiesced in such encroach- 
ments b}!' the Legislature as restrained the power of 
the Crown or the inlluence of the Governor. 

Pownall's short rule of three years was noteworthy 
mainly for its military recoi-d.-'^ 

In August, 1760, Frauds Bernard arrived here to 
succeed Pownall, and, five months lalei', news was 
received of the accession of George III. With the 
new King and the new Governor begins the closing 
chaptei- of our colonial history. This is not the 
time to attempt to describe the causes which led to 
the Revolution, except in so far as any important 
events took ])lace in this building. Here, under this 
roof, indeed, were encamped the hostile forces of the 
civil government. In this room the Royal Governor 



-^ John Adiims says (Works, x., 2-tl— t), " Pownall was a Whig, a friend 
oflihurty, a lovur f)f his t-ountry, and he ('onsiderL'd North Anu'rioa a j)art 
of his country as niiK'h as England, Scotland, or Ireland." — " Pownall, 
when he came into administration, thought tlu'ro ought to he a good 
understanding between the <-a|iital and country, and a harmony between 
botli and the government. This coueiliatory and comprehensive system 
was too refined and too suldime for human naUire in this contentious, 
warring world." — " I'ownall was the most constitutional ami national 
Governor, in my o]iinion, who ever represented the crown in this province. 
He engaged in no intrigues, he favored no cun-ipiracies against the liber- 
ties of America." 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 69 

and his generally subservient Council could listen to 
the applause which greeted the impassioned elo- 
quence of the popular leaders of the Representatives 
in the adjoining hall, as they gradually developed the 
ideas of " Ko i-epresentation, no taxation," and '' Xo 
representation, no legislation," as Hutchinson scorn- 
fully termed them. (Hist., iii., 1G4.) How often 
must these lobbies and entries have been thi'onged by 
the citizens of Boston, anxious to catch the latest in- 
telligence of royal obstinacy or of popular indigna- 
tion! In those days the press was so circumscribed 
in its province, that the news was only to be ob- 
tained by contact with the actors; and here was the 
centre of all that absorbed the attention of the com- 
munity. The town-meetings were held at Faneuil 
Hall,-'' and when more room was needed, they ad- 
journed to the Old South Church. Yet, powerful 
as was the influence of Boston, the citizens could 
only issue instructions to their representatives in the 
august body, which, in these halls, spoke in the 
name of the entire colony. It will be necessary to 
give a few instances of the occurrences in these 
apartments, from the evidence of the actors therein. 

'•"It is often forgotten that Faneuil Hall prior to A.D. 1808 was much 
smalkT than it now is. The addition of anotlier storj' and an extension on 
the north side added greatly to the sjiace. Of course these cliangcs have 
not destroyed the identity of the building, but they are much greater than 
those made in these Memorial Halls, wliere only one wall has been replaced 
in each room and in the same position. (Consult, on tliis point, Ajipendix E.) 



70 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Til 1761, soon afttT Bernard's ari-ival, Jamos Otis, 
Jr., aroused the public by liis famous plea against 
the "Writs of Assistance. John Adams has ad- 
mirably described the scene in this hall, in a letter 
"written to a friend in 1817. (Life and Works, Vol. 
X., pp. 24r)-248.) 

" Tlio scene is the Comieil cli.-imber in the olil Town House in 
Boston. The date is in tlie month of February, 1761, nine j'cars 
before you entered my office in Cole lane. As this was five years 
l)efore j-ou entered college, j'ou must have been in the second 
form of ]\Iaster Lovell's seiiool. 

"'riiat ('<iuni;il chamber was as respectable an apartment as tlie 
House of Conunons or the House of Lords in Great Britain, in 
proportion, or that ill tlie State House in Philadelphia, in which 
the Declaration of Independence was signed in 177(3. In this 
chamber, round a great fire, were seated five judges, with Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Hutchinson at their head as Chief Justice, all 
aiTMved in tlieir new, fresh, ricii robes of scarlet Englisli broad- 
cloth : in their large cambric bands and immense judicial wigs. 

" In this chamber were seated at a long tal)le all the barristers- 
at-law of Boston and of the neighboring county of Middlesex, 
in gowns, bands, and tie wigs. They were not seated on ivory 
chairs, lint their dress was more solemn and more pomjious than 
that of the Koman Senate, when the Gauls broke in u|)onthem. 

" In the corner of the room nuist be placed as a spectator 
and an auditor, wit, sense, imagination, genius, pathos, reason, 
prudence, eloquence, learning and immense reading, hanging 
liy the sliouklers on two ciutclies, covered with a great cloth 
coat, in the person of ]\Ir. Fiatt, wiio had been solicited on 
both sides, liut would engage on iieitiier, being, as Chief Justice 
of New Yoriv, about to leave Boston forever. Two portraits, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 71 

at more thau full leugtli, of King Charles the Second and of 
King James the Second, in splendid golden frames, were hnng 
up on the most conspicuous sides of the apartment. If my young 
eyes or old memory have not deceived me, these were as fine pict- 
nres as 1 e\-er saw ; the colors of the royal ermines and long, 
llowing robes were the most glowing, the figures the most noble 
and graceful, the features the most distinct and characleristie, far 
superior to those of the king and queen of France in the Senate 
cliamljor of Congress — these were worthy of the pencils of 
Rubens and Vaudyive. Tliere was no p linter in England capable 
of them at that time. Tliey had been sent over without frames in 
Governor PownalTs time, l)Ut he was no admirer of Charles or 
James. The pictures were stowed away in a garret, among 
rubbish, imtil Governor Bernard came, who had them cleaned, 
superbly framed, and placed in council for the admiration and 
imitation of all men — _no doul)t with the advice and concurrence 
of Hutchinson and all his nebula of stars and satellites. 

" One circumstance more. Samuel Quinc}' and .Jolin Adams had 
been admitted barristers at that term. John was the youngest ; 
he should be painted looicing like a short, thick archbishop of 
Canterbury, seated at the table with a pen in his hand, lost in 
admiration, now and then minuting those poor notes which j'our 
pupil. Judge Miuot, has printed in his history, with some interpo- 
lations." 

He then proceeds to describe tlie characters in the 
drama, and thus depicts the chief: — ■ 

" But Otis was a flame of fire. With a promptitude of classical 
allusions, a depth of research, a rapid summary of historical 
events and dates, a profusion of legal authorities, a prophetic 
glauce of his eye into futurity, and a torrent of impetuous 
elo(|ueuce, he hurried away everything before him. American 



72 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-UEDICATION. 

inclepeudence was then and there born ; the seeds of patriots and 
heroes were then and there sown, to defend the vigorous youth, 
the non sine DUs animosus infans. Every man of a crowded 
audience appeared to me to go away, as I did, ready to talie 
arms against writs of assistance. Then and there was the first 
scene of the first act of opposition to the arbitrary claims of Great 
Britain. Then and there the child Independence was born." 

Thf immediate result was a modification of the 
form of the writs; Init tlie greater consequence was 
the prominence of Otis, and the attention called to 
the oppressive character of the English revenne laws 
when applied to this country. 

A lull succeeded in the 2:)olitical atmosphere for 
the next two years, and the news of the peace Avith 
France, received here in ISIay, 1703, was jo3'fully 
welcomed. Soon, however, tlie clouds gathered, 
indicative of the coming storm. The vast expense 
of the war rendered new taxes inevitable; unfor- 
tunately, the consideration of the renewal of a tax 
which had just exjiii'cd, — one on the importation 
of molasses into the colonies, — led the Grenville 
ministry to determine "to raise by a stamj? duty, 
or in some other way, a sum from America, sufficient 
to ease government in part from the future chai'ges 
which might be necessary there." (ITntchinson, iii., 
109.) 

In April, 17G5, news was received of the passage 
of the act, and popular opposition was at once 



OLD STATK HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 73 

excited. On the birthday of the Prince of Wales, 
August 12, it was concerted to liang the appointed 
distributor of stamjis in effigy. This was done two 
days hiter, the image being suspended from tlic 
Liberty Tree, wliicli stood on the corner of Essex 
and Wasliington streets. The Council was hastily 
assembled, but prudently advised that nothing be 
done, hoping that the matter would end there. 

"Before night the image was taken down, and carried through 
tlie Town House, in the cliamlier whereof the Governor and 
Council were sitting. Forty or fifty tradesmen, decently' dressed, 
preceded ; and some thousands of tlie mob followed down King 
street to Oliver's dock, near which Mr. Oliver had lately erected 
a building, which, it was conjectured, he designed for a stamp 
ofBce. This was laid flat to the gmuud in a few minutes. From 
thence the mob proceeded for Fort Hill, l)ut Mr. Oliver's house 
beiug in the way, they endeavored to force themselves into it, and 
being opposed, broke the windows, beat down the doors, entered, 
and destroyed part of his furniture, and continued in riot until 
midnight before they separated." (Hutchinson, iii., 121.) 

On the evening of August 2G a mob collected in 
King street, "drawn there by a bonfire, and well 
su2:)plied with strong di'ink." They plundered the 
cellars of the comptroller of customs, and then 
marched to the house of Thomas Hutchinson, in Gar- 
den court, near Fleet sti*eet, where, all night long-, 
undisturbed by the frightened neighborhood, the Avork 
of destruction went on. These inexcusable outrages 
were jjromptly disavowed in town-meeting', and most 



74 OLD STATK U(.)USE HE-DEDICATION. 

probably were tlie worlc of those turbulent and law- 
less men who always appear whenever authority is 
suspended, to dislionor and injure the eause they 
nominally support. 

AVhen the Legislature met, on Octolx-r 24, 17(3.j, 
Boston was represented by a new memlier, — Samuel 
Adams, — then first the reeipient of hig-h office, but 
already a leader among- the advocates of independ- 
ence. Otis was in J^ew Yoi'k, attending a conven- 
tion of delegates from the various colonies, which 
had I)een convoked by royal authority. The differ- 
ence in the political views of these leaders was 
marked, though it did not prevent their unison in 
many points, Otis believed that Parliament was su- 
preme, but that the Colonies were entitled to repre- 
sentation therein. Adams " professed principles, 
which he oAvned without reserve in private discourse, 
to be independency; and, from time to time, he made 
advances towards it in publiek, as far as Avould serve 
the great purpose of attaining to it. To his influence 
may be attributed the great advance made in this 
session." (Hutchinson, iii., 134.) On the 29th of 
October, in the adjoining hall, the House passed the 
famous Resolves, prepared by Samuel Adams, one of 
which declares, " That all acts made by any })ower 
whatever, other than the (Teneral Assembly of this 
Province, imposing taxes on the inhabitants, are 
infringements of our inherent and unalienable rights 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 75 

as men and British suljjects, and render void the 
most vakiable declarations of our charter." 

To be sure, tliis was coupled with a declaration of 
loyalty to the Crown and to Parliament; but the first 
resolve contained a political truth, and the last a 
politic profession. 

On May 16, 17(50, the news of the repeal of the 
Stamp Act was received here, and caused universal 
rejoicing. In September the Rockingham-Shelburne 
ministry came into power, and was believed to be 
friendly to the Colonies. The Governor here had 
several disputes Avith the Legislature, the Council 
disjilaj^ed unusual independence, and the inflnence of 
Adams, now promoted to the office of Clerk of the 
House,^' was steadily on the increase. The same state 
of aifairs characterized the whole of the following 
yeai", 17(37, until, in the autumn, news was received 
of the passage of an act levying " small duties on 
paper, glass, and painters' colors, imported into 
America; to take off 12d., which had been charged 
in England on every pound of tea exported, and to 
lay 3d. only, payable upon its imj^ortation into 
America." (Hutchinson, iii., 179.) Commissioners 
were apijointed to enforce the customs' laws, and an 

"' " The office having some cmohiment, it had generally boon filled by one 
of the members, wlio took the same share in debating and voting as if 
he had not been clerk, and rather acquired than lost influence by being so."' 
(Hutchinson, iii., US.) 



76 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

act was passed legalizing the writs of assistance, 
under which search was made for smuggled goods. 

In February, 1768, the House passed a bill order- 
ing letters to be written to the other colonies, " with 
respect to the importance of joining with them in 
petitioning His Majesty at this time." This was 
Adams' measure, — a potent weapon in the coming 
conflict. Another resolve was, "that this House will, 
by all prudent means, endeavor to discountenance 
the use of foreign superfluities, and to encourage the 
manufactures of this Province." 

The English government demanded the rescinding 
the vote authorizing the Circular Letter, but the 
House, by a vote of 92 to 17, refused obedience. 
"The galleries were cleared, and all communication 
with the other Board or from the outside, was shut 
off" during the debate." (Life of S. Adams, i., iii.) 
Even a committee of the Council, with certain reso- 
lutions of that branch, was refused admittance. 

Tlie House was prorogued the same day, and 
dissolved the next day, but not till it had passed an 
address to the king, asking for the removal of Gov- 
ernor Bernard. 

An ill-advised measure at this time added to the 
popular discontent. Owing to Bernard's representa- 
tions, it had been decided that one or two regiments 
should be sent from Halifax to Boston. On heai'ing 
of the riots here, the government in England ordered 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATIOJJ. 77 

two more regiments from Ireland. The news of the 
first order was received in Boston al)out tlie begin- 
ning" of September, 1768, and, as the Legislature was 
not expected to meet for a year, the town-meeting of 
Boston took action. On learning from the Governor 
that the troops were soon to ari'ive, — one regiment 
for the Castle and two for the town, — • the meeting 
voted to hold a convention on September 22, of 
delegates fi-om all the other towns, " in order that 
such measures may be concerted and advised, as His 
Majesty's service and the peace and safety of his 
subjects in the province may require." As Hutchin- 
son says (Hist., iii., 21 )5) , " It must be allowed by all, 
that the proceedings of this meeting had a greater 
tendency towards a revolution in government than 
any preceding measures in any of the colonies. The 
inliabitants of one town alone took upon them to 
convene an assembly from all the towns, that, in 
everything but in name, would be a House of Eejare- 
sentatives." A most just comment; and let us 
to-day be proud of the foct tliat the town thus 
assuming the lead was Boston. Although the result 
of the meeting, which was duly held at Faneuil Hall, 
was not as tangible as was hoped, it showed tlie 
colonists how to proceed towards a rebellion whilst 
preserving the forms of law. The convention ad- 
journed September 29, the day after the fleet and 
soldiers reached Xantasket. The troops, amounting 



78 i>r,n STATK HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

to one thousand men, under Lientenant-Colonel Dal- 
rymplc, landed witliout opposition. One i-egiment 
jjitched their tents on the Common; the others 
were marched to Faneuil Hall, and, after some dis- 
pute, were sheltered there for one night. " The next 
day, Gov. Bernard oi'dered the doors of the Town 
House to be opened, except that of the Council 
Chamber; and sucli [)art were lodged there as Fan- 
euil Hall rooms would not accommodate. The Rep- 
resentatives' room was filled, in common with the 
rest." (Hutchinson, iii., 212.) 

Gen. Gage was summoned from Xew York, and 
the Council attempted to find a way to satisfy l)Oth 
sides. The result was that houses were liired for the 
troops, but in the immediate vicinity of tlie Town 
Plouse. The quartering of troops at this spot was 
felt keenly by the province. The next town-meeting 
demanded of Gen. Mackay, then in command, the 
removal of the troops on election day. He replied 
that he could not do this, but would confine them to 
their barracks. When the Legislatui-e met, in May, 
17G9, its first vvoi-k, aftei- organizing, was to resolve 
that, ^-' an armanent by sea and land investing the 
metropolis, and a military guard, with cannon pointed 
al that ver}' door of the State House, where this As- 
sembly is held, is inconsistent with that dignity, as 
well as that freedom, with which we liaA'e a right to 
deliberate, considt, and determine." They added 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 79 

that tliey expected the Governor to order the removal 
of these forces during the session of the Assenlbl3^ 
As they refused to transact business while the troops 
remained, and as the Governor would not consent, he 
adjourned the Legislature to Cambridge. Finally, 
two regiments were sent back to Halifax, the 14th 
and 29th remaining here. 

Another deeply exciting trial at this time inten- 
silied the popular indignation. 

Api'il 22, 17(3i), a i)ress-gang Irom the "Rose" 
frigate, under Lieut. Panton, boarded a ship owned 
by Mr. Hooper, of Marblehead, on her return from 
Bill)oa. Michael Corbet and three others resisted, 
and the officer, Panton, Avas shot. Hence a trial in 
July, by a special Court of Admii'alty, of these four 
sailors on a charge of piracy and murder. John 
Adams (Works, X., 205-207) says, that at the open- 
ing of the trial, on the presentation of the pi'isoners' 
pleas, Hutchinson moved " that the Court should 
adjourn to the Council Chamber." " The prisoners 
were remanded ; parties, witnesses, counsel, audience, 
dismissed; and the Court adjourned to the Council 
Chamber, where they remahied in secret conclave 
till late in the evening." 

" The Court met again early next morning, in 
secret conclave in the Council Chamber." The plea 
of the defence was, that the act was justifiable homi- 
cide, and this was the decision of the Court. 



80 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

Adams ;idds, " One circumstance is too charac- 
teristic to he omitted. Tlie counsel for the prisoners, 
descending from the chamljcr where the Court sat, to 
the lower floor of the Court House, was met at the 
bottom of the stairs by the boatswain of the ' Rose.' 
' Sir,' said he, ' we are all greatly obliged to you 
for your noble conduct in defence of these brave 
fellows; yet, sir, this is the emplojnnent in which 
I have been almost constantly engaged for twenty 
years, fighting with honest men to deprive them of 
their liberty. I always thoiight I ought to be 
hanged for it, and now I know it." 

Bernard was recalled, and sailed on Juh' 31, 
17G9, amid demonstrations of popular joy. By 
liis departure the duties devolved upon Thomas 
Hutchinson, the lieutenant-governor, a native of 
Boston, a man* of fortune and eminent abilities, 
but already distastefnl to his fellow-citizens as the 
ablest defender of the royalist views in the colony. 
He came to the conunaud in times which were daily 
becoming more turl)ulent, and, having persistently 
taken the \ydvt of the Crown, he has justly forfeited 
all claims to the respect of the descendants of the 
rebels. 

During the antunm of 17(59 the bitter feeling 
between the colonists and the loyalists rapidly 
increased. James Otis was dangerously wounded 
in an aflray Avith a Crown officer in the British 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 81 

Coffee House, which stood on State street, at the 
present J^o. 66. It is probable that the violence 
he then received completed the overthrow of his 
intellect, and, thenceforwai'd, he ceased to lead in 
public affairs. On the 22d of February, 1770, a 
local riot led to the shooting, by one Richardson, 
of a boy named Christopher Snyder, the first vic- 
tim to the evil passions excited by the state of 
affairs. 

The merchants of the town had l:)ecn nearly 
unanimous in giving effect to the popular ^vish to 
prevent the importation f)f English goods, although 
the taxes had been taken off of all imports except 
tea. Early in 1770, however, a new turn was given 
to popular thought, by Avliat is known as tlie State- 
street Massacre. From these windows we overlook 
the scene of this famous event, but it has been too 
often described to need more than the briefest 
i*eference. A fight between tlie soldiers and the 
woi'kmen at Gray's ropewalk, on March 2, 1770, 
had raised a resentment in the minds of the troops, 
which led to fatal results. On Monday evening, 
March oth, the soldiers began to show signs of 
insubordination. In and ai'ound their barracks, in 
Dock square, they assailed the passers-by with 
threats and l)]()\vs. The boys of tlie town rang 
the bi'll in the First Church, and the citizens began 
to throng towards the Town House. A large 



82 OLD STATK HOUSE ItE-DEDICATION. 

crowd gathered in Duek square, for, in those days, 
a few niimites' walk would bring every householder 
to the centre of tlie town. Here a leader, pre- 
sumably AVilliam Molineaux, advised the jjeople to 
disperse — a counsel followed by part, while others 
started for State street. The Custom House stood 
at the corner of State and Exchange streets, and 
there a sentinel was posted. A crowd of boys 
assaulted him with snowballs, until a messenger 
was sent hastily to the guard-house near by. Some 
seven or eigbt men, inider Capt. Preston, at once 
rushed to the relief of the guard, loaded Cjuicldy, 
and stood at bay. The mob pressed upon them, 
striking their muskets, and otherwise insulting 
them, Ijeing evidently of the Itelief that the soldici's 
would not fire. The order was given to 2^i'*^^^?iit 
arms, and then to fire, though it was never dis- 
covered who gave the fatal word. A I'ambling fire 
by the guard, at these close quarters, killed three 
persons and wounded eight others. 

At once the partisans of each side rushed to the 
spot. The soldiers Avei'e drawn up in order of 
battle, but remained under the control of their 
officers. The bells of the churches aroused the 
alarmed inhabitants, who thronged the street to 
gaze upon the blood-stained snow, Avhich testified 
to the awful tragedy. A few hastened to sunmion 
Gov. Hutchinson, Avho, " to satisfy the people, called 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 83 

for Captain Preston, and inquired why he fired 
npon tlie inhabitants without the direction of a 
civil magistrate. The noise was so great tliat his 
answer could not be understood, and some, who 
were apprehensive of the lieutenant-governor's dan- 
ger from the general confusion, called out, ' The 
Town House! the Town House!' and, with irre- 
sistible violence, he was forced up by the crowd 
into the Council Chamber. There, demand was 
immediately made of him to order the troops to 
withdraw from the Town House to their barracks. 
He refused to comply, and, calling from the bal- 
cony, to the great body of people which remained 
in the street, he expressed his great concern at the 
mdiappy event, assured them he would do every- 
thing in his 250wer in order to a full and impartial 
inquiry, that the law might have its coarse, and 
advised them to go peaceably to their several 
homes. Upon this there was a cry, ' Home ! home ! ' 
and a great part separated and went home." — 
(Hutchinson, iii., 273.) 

Captain Preston and the soldiers implicated sur- 
rendered themselves before morning, and were com- 
mitted to prison. This was not sufficient to satisfy 
the people; and a town-meeting was held in Faneuil 
Hall. The selectmen had already waited upon 
Hutchinson, in this chamber, to demand the removal 
of the troops from the town. He repeated that he 



84 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-PEDICATION. 

had not the power, but summoned Colonels Dal- 
i^Muple and Carr to confer with the Council. 

When the selectmen reached the meeting Samuel 
Adams addressed it. A committee of fifteen, headed 
by Adams, pi'oceeded to the Council Chamber to 
repeat the demand for the removal of the troops. 
The committee presented its message and withdrew 
into another room to wait for an ansAver. Dahymple 
consented to withdraw the 29th Regiment to the 
Castle, and the Council adjourned till the afternoon, 
m hopes that the concession would prove enough. 

At three o'clock the town-meeting reassembled, 
but adjourned to the Old South Church to accommo- 
date the increasing crowds. " The conmiittee, led 
by Samuel Adams, his head bared in reverence to 
the occasion, and his gray locks flowing in the wind, 
issued Irom the Council Chamber." Through a 
croAvd reaching to the church the conunittee silently 
passed, and, in the presence of three thousand eager 
listeners, the proposal of the royal Governor Avas 
announced. It Avas at once voted to be insufficient, 
and a new conmiittee, Avith the same leader, Avas 
appointed to make a final demand. 

John Adams (Life and Works, Vol. X., p. 249) 
has eloquently described the scene in the folloAving 
Avords : — 

" Now for llie pictuif. Tlie theatre and the scenery are the 
same vvitli tliose at the discussiou of writs of assistance. The 




SAMUEL ADAMS. 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 85 

same glorious [lortraits of King Chailfs II. and King James II., 
to which might be added, and should be added, little miserable 
likenesses of Governor Winthrop, Governor Bradstreet, Governor 
Endicott, and Governor Belcher, hung up in obscure corners of the 
room. Lieutenant-Governor Hutehinsou, Commander-in-Chief in 
the absence of the Governor, must be placed at the head of the 
council table. Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple, Commander-in-Chief 
of His Majesty's military forces, taking rank of all PI is Majesty's 
counsellors, must be seated by the side of the Lieutenant-Governor 
and Commander-in-Chief of the province. Plight and twenty 
counsellors must be painted, all sealed at .the council board. Let 
me see — what costume? AVhat was the fashion of that day iu the 
month of March? Large white wigs, English scarlet cloth cloaks, 
some of them with gold-laced hats, not on their heads, indeed, in so 
august a presence, but on the table before them, or under the table 
beneath them. Before these illustrious personages appeared 
Samuel Adams, a member of the House of Representatives, and 
their clerk, now at the head of the committee of the great 
assembly at the Old South Church. 

"Such was the situation of affairs when Samuel Adams was 
reasoning with Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Dalrymple. He had fairly driven them from all their out- 
works, breastworks, and intrenchments to tiieir citadel. There 
they paused and considered and deliberated. The heads of 
Hutchinson and Dalrymple were laid together in wh.ispers for a 
long time ; when the whispering ceased, a long and solemn pause 
ensued, extremely painful to an impatient, expecting audience. 
Hutchinson, in time, broke silence ; he had consulted with 
Colonel Dalrymple, and the Colonel had authorized him to say 
that he might order one regiment down to the Castle, if that would 
satisfy the people With a self-recollection, a self-possession, a 
self-command, a presence of mind that was admired hj every man 
present, Samuel Adams arose with an air of dignity and majesty 



86 • OLD STATE IIOUSK RE-DEDIOATION. 

of wliicli he was soinetimos capable, stretchod forth his ann, 
though even then quivering with palsy, and with an harmonious 
voice and decisive tone said. ' If the Lieutenaut-Governor or 
Colonel Dalrymple, or both together, have authority to remove 
one regiment, they have autliority to remove two, and nothing 
short of tlie total evacuation of the town by all the regular troops 
will satisfy the public mind or preserve the peace of the province. 
"•These few words thrilled the veins of every man in the 
audience, and produced the great result. After a little awkward 
hesitation it was agreed that tlie town should be evacuated and 
both regiments sent to the Castle." 

Hutchinson's- own account of the affair agrees 
substantially with this, though throwing the respon- 
sibility upon Col. Dalrymple. On March 10 and 
11 the two regiments were removed to the Castle. 



Surely such an event as this must render this hall 
forever memorable. "Whatever else had been done, 
at other times and places, here was taken the first 
open step toward successful rebellion. A govern- 
ment which removes its military force from a fort, 
a town, or a province, at the demand of its sul)jects, 
can hoi)e to regain its ascendancy in the future only 
by the disj)lay of an ii-resistible armament in tlie 
same i)lace. Hutchinson, who well understood the 
position, wrote to a friend, in March, 1770: "The 
body of the people ai-e all of a mind, and there is 



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OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 87 

no stemming the toi'rent. It is the common lan- 
guage of Adams and the rest, that they are not 
to be intimidated by acts of Parhament, for tliey 
■yvill not be executed here. . . . "We are most 
certainly every day confirming ourselves in our 

principles of independence; and tells me he 

is fully convinced that nothiug but sharp external 
force will bring Boston into a state of due subordi- 
nation." (Life of S. Adams, i., 335.) 

The Legislature was convened in March, 1770, 
at Cambridge, despite their protest that the writs 
specified that the meeting was " to be held at the 
Town House in Boston.'' Samuel Adams, John 
Adams, John Hancock, and Joseph Hawley, were 
the leaders in the House, ably assisted by James 
Bowdoin in the Council. 

In October the trial of Capt. Preston and his 
soldiers was held iii this hall, John Adams and 
Josiah Quincy, Jr., acting as their counsel, and 
Preston was fully acquitted. Two of the soldiers 
were convicted of manslaughter. 

" The trials were far from satisfactory to the prose- 
cutors; and, in a short time, a great part of the 
people were induced to believe the acquittals unjust 
and contrary to evidence; and the killing of the men 
was declared to be a horrid massacre, with the same 
freedom as if the jury had found those concerned in 
it guilty of murder. A few days after the trial. 



o 



88 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

while the Court conthiueil to sit, an incendiary paper 
was posted up, in the night, upon the door of the 
Town House, complaining of the Court for cheating 
the injured people with a show of justice, and calling 
upon them to rise and free the world from such 
domestick tyrants." (Hutchinson, iii., 330.) 

Tiic removal of the train-band from the Castle 
and its delivery to the royal forces, was another 
ground of oflfcnce to the colonists. 

In March, 1771, Hutchinson's commission as 
Governor arrived, and lie met the Legislature at 
Cambridge as before. In the preceding year he had 
vetoed the election of eleven of his Council, as they 
Avere of the popular side. In this year he accepted 
them all, except John Hancock and Jerathmeel 
Bowers. The reported disagreement between Han- 
cock and Adams, and the fiict that the latter was 
opposed in his election in May, 1772, by two hundred 
and eighteen votes in seven hundi-ed and twenty- 
three at the Boston meeting, probably influenced the 
Governor to allow the Legislature, in 1772, to return 
to its old apartments in this building. 

As I confine myself to what was done here, I pass 
over the various events which tended to hasten the 
final rupture. But it was in the adjoining hall, after 
ordering the galleries to be cleared, that Samuel 
Adams produced those confidential letters of Hutch- 
inson to his English friends, which convinced the 



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OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 89 

public that there was no safety foi- any of the 
opponents of the government. 

In 1773 it became known that the experiment was 
to be made of shipping tea to this country and of 
collecting the duty upon it. 

On Xovember 28, 1773, the tea arrived, and, as 
Hutchinson bitterly remarks, " while the Governor 
and Council were sitting on the Monday in the Coun- 
cil Chamber, and known to be consulting upon means 
for preserving the peace of the town, several thou- 
sands, inhabitants of Boston and other towns, were 
assembled in a publick ■ meeting-house, at a small 
distance, in direct opposition and defiance." We all 
know the result: that, after exhausting all peaceable 
means for the retui-n of the " detested herl:)," a body 
of patriots, illegally but righth^, took the responsi- 
bility of consigning three hundred and forty-two 
chests of tea to the waves of Boston Harbor. " This 
was the boldest stroke which had yet been struck in 
America. . . . Their leaders feared no consequences. 
. . . They had gone too far to recede. If the colo- 
nics were subject to the su];)reme authority and laws 
of Great Britain, their offences long since had been 
of the highest natui-e. . . . And it is certain that, 
ever after this time, an opinion -was easily instilled, 
and was constantly increasing, that the I^ody of the 
people had also gone too far to recede, and that an 
open and general revolt must be the consequence j 



90 or-T) STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

and it wus not long- baft^-e actual preparations were 
visibly making for it in most parts of the province." 
(Hutchinson, iii., 4o9.) 

Of course this proceeding could not be ignoi-cd by 
Parliament, and, in March, 1774, the Boston Port 
Bill, closing the jjort during the jjleasure of the King, 
was jjassed, with other acts taking all the power 
from the jicople or their representatives, and giving 
it to the Crown. Persons accused of rioting could 
be sent to England for trial, and special orders were 
given for the arrest of Samuel Adams and other 
leaders. 

On May 17, 1771, Thomas Gage, the commander- 
in-chief of all the troops in this country, arrived in 
Boston, commissioned as Governor of the province. 
Landing at Long Wharf, he was escorted up State 
street by the Boston Cadets, under the command of 
Hancock. In this hall he was duly sworn into office, 
and from the balcony the usual proclamation was made. 

The last session of the Legislature held under the 
royal government was at Salem, on June 7, 1771. It 
was dissolved on the 17th, after it had provided for 
the ai)pointment of James Bov/doin, Thomas Gush- 
ing, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat 
Paine, as delegates to the Congress to be held at 
Philadelphia. Thenceforward the old government 
was extinct. In the following year a Provincial 
Congress, elected by the people, assembled at Water- 




«^t 'TK^^^t^rvL 4/^y fnr 



1 * 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 91 

town, to exercise powers acknowledged b}^ all the 
citizens of the new State. In Boston, the royal Gov- 
ernor, with his select board of thirty counsellors, 
appointed by himself, kept np for a while the farce 
of civic government. The true authority was in his 
hands as commanding the troops, and his official 
residence Avas at the Province House, opposite the 
head of Milk street. 

Hardly anything is on record in regard to the 
Town House during the siege. It is stated that it 
was used as a lian-acks; certainly, after the evacua- 
tion of the town, no complaint was made of any 
injury done to it by the troops.'* On the 19th of 
April, 1775, the battle of Lexington was fought; on 
the 17th of June following, the battle of Bunker Hill. 
On the 10th October, 1775, Gage was recalled to 
England, and, during his absence. Gen. Howe com- 

'* As an eviik-nee of the dL'mor;ilizatic)ii during the last few days of 
British rule, when private liouses were openly robbed by Crean and his 
Tory associates, we find that on March 14, 1776, Gen. Howe issued the 
following proclamation • — 

"The commander-in-chief, finding, notwithstanding former orders that 
have been given to forbid plundering, houses have been forced open and 
robbed, he is therefore under a necessity of declaring to the troops tliat 
the first soldier who is caught plundering will be hanged on the spot. 

" The commander-in-chief, having been informed that depredations have 
been committed in the Town House, offers the following rewards to any 
person or persons who sliall convict any person or persons of cutting 
and defacing the King's and Queen's picture, and destroying the records and 
other public papers, viz. : For the King's picture, £50 ; for the Queen's 
picture, £jO; fur other pictures, records, and public papers, £20." 



92 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

manded on the sea-board, and Gen. Carleton in 
Canada. On the 17th of Mai-cli, 1776, the British 
troops evacnated the town ; and, on the 20th, the 
main body of the American arni}^ marched in. 

On the 29th of March, the citizens of Boston 
held a rej^uhvr meeting for the election of town 
officers, in the Old Brick Chnrch, Faneuil Hall 
having Ijeen fitted np as a theatre by the British 
officers. 

On the 18th of July, 1776, the Declaration of 
Independence "was made public, with great parade 
and exultation, from the balcony on the east end."'° 

^^ '' Tluirsiluy last, pursuant to the ortk'T of the Honorable* Council, was 
proclaimed from the balcony of the State Houss in this town the Declara- 
tion of the American Congress, absolving; the United Colonies from their 
allegiance to the British crown, and declaring them free and independent 
States. There were present on the occasion in the council chamber .a 
committee of council, a number of the Honorable House of Representatives, 
the magistrates, selectmen, and other gentlemen of Boston and the neigh- 
boring towns, also the commission officers of the Continental regiments 
stationed here, .and other officers. Two of these regiments were under 
arms in King street, formed into three lines on the north side of the street 
and in thirteen divisions, and a detachment from the Massachusetts regi- 
ment of artillery, witli two i>ieces of cannon, was on tlieir right wing. 
.Vt one o'clock the Declaration was proclaimed by Colonel Thomas Crafts, 
whi(-h was received with great joy, expressed by three Inizzas from a 
great concourse of people assembled on the occasion. After whicli, on 
a signal given, tliirieen pieces of cannon were fired from the fort on Fort- 
hill ; tlie forts at Dorchester Neck, the Castle, Nantasket, and Point Alder- 
ton likewise discliarged their cannon. Then the detachment of artillery 
fired their cannon thirteen times, which w.as followed by the two regiments 
giving their fire from the thi.'teen divisions in succession. These firings 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 93 

The State government, which consisted of the 
Legislature without a Governor, still remained at 
Watertown. The session for 1776 begun May 29, 
and continued, by one prorog-ation and one adjourn- 
ment, until the 12th of ]S"ovcmber, when it was 
transferred to Boston. The "Boston Gazette," of 
ISTovcmber 4, announces its own removal from 
Watertown to the printing-office opposite the Court 
House, in Queen sti-eet, and in its next issue, 
Monday, IS'ovember 11, states, "Saturday last, the 
General Assembly of this State adjourn'd from 
Watertown, to meet at the State House in this 
Town, Tomorrow, at Ten o'clock." 

On I^ovember 16, 1776, seventeen Councillors 



correspondeil to the miinber of tlie American States uniteil. The ceremony 
was closed with a proper collation to tlie gentlemen in the council chamber; 
during which the following toasts were given by the president of the council, 
and heartily pleilged by the company, viz. : — 

" 'Prosperity and perpetuity to the United States of America.' 
'" The American Congress.' 

" 'General Washington, and success to the arms of the United States.' 
" ' The downfall of tyrants and tyranny.' 
" ' The universal prevalence of civil and religious liberty.' 
" 'The friends of the United States in all quarters of the globe.' 
"The bells in town were rung on the occasion; and undissembled festivity 
cheered and brightened every face. 

" On the same evening, the King's .Vrnis, and every sign with any resem- 
blance of it, whether Lion ami Crown, Pestle and Mortar and Crown, 
Heart and Crown, etc., together with every sign that belonged to a Tory, 
were taken down, and the latter made a general eonflagraaon of in King 
street." — New England Chronicle for Jnhj 25, 177G- 



94 OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 

signed a proclamation, '' given at the Council Cham- 
\)cr in Boston," for a Thanksgiving to be observed 
on December 12 following. 

The various State officials also I'eturned to this 
l)ailding, which continued in use as the State 
House, for nearly twenty years. In 1780 the State 
Constitution was adopted, and John Hancock, the 
first Governor of the State, was installed here, to 
the great delight of his fellow-townsmen. James 
Bowdoin, Samuel Adams, and Increase Sumner, 
succeeded Hancock, and presided in this chamber. 

In 1782 a great reception was given in the 
Council Chamber to the French fleet and army, 
then returning to Europe. 

On the 23d of April, 1783, the Proclamation of 
Peace was received here, " and the sheriff of the 
County of Suffolk, Josei^h Henderson, Esq., an- 
nounced the same from the balcony of the State 
House, at one o'clock, before which a large con- 
course of the most respectable inhabitants of the 
town were assembled, who demonstrated by thi'ee 
loud huzzas, their joy upon this occasion. After 
whicli, thirteen cannon. fi-om the fortresses at the 
Castle, and the same number at Port Hill, were 
fired." 

In 1785 the view of the Old State House here 
annexed was used on the title-page of the "Boston 
Ma^'azine." It is interestinu' as showiu::'' that the 




JA.MKS JidWDOlX. 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE-])EDICATION. 95 

Province Arms, or tlieir supporters, had disap- 
peared from tlie eastern front, bnt that tlie scrolls 
had not been substitnted; and that the steps were 
then in phice. It also shows that at that date 
this building was regarded as a pecidiarly Bos- 
tonian sti'uctnre, and therefore figured on the front 
page of a Boston book. 

In October, 1789, AVashington visited Boston, 
and reviewed the procession in his honoi- from a 
balcony erected from the centre Avindow of the 
Representatives' Hall. 

Of course Washington had seen the State House 
in 1776, when he entered the town with his victo- 
rious troops; but, on this occasion, the building Avas 
the centre of the pageant in his honor. We copy 
from the "Massachusetts Magazine" for January, 
1790, a view therein engraved, and the following 
"Description of the Triumphal Arch and Colonnade, 
erected at Boston, in honour of the President of the 
United States, Octoljer 24, 1789. — The Triumphal 
Arch (designed l)y Mr. C. Bui finch) was 18 feet 
high, composed of a centre arch 14 feet wide, and 
one on each side, of 7 feet, with an lonick pilaster and 
proper imposts between them. The frieze exhibited 
13 stars on a blue ground, and a handsome white, 
defitulo cornice was carried to the height of the 
platform; above was painted a balustrade of inter- 
laced work, in the centre of which was an oval tablet, 



9G OLB STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

with the followiug insciiptions : on one side, 'To 
tlw Mail who uviles all Hearts,' and on the othei', 
' To Columbians favourite Soii.^ At the end 
adjoining the State Honse was a panel decorated 
with a Trophij, composed of the arms of the United 
States, of tlie Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
of our French Allies, crowned with a laurel wreath; 
over these an inscription, '^Boston relieved, March 
17, 1770^ — as a proof of a grateful remembrance 
of the sci'viee rendered the town by the illustrious 
President in his military character. Over the centre 
arch, a i-ich canopy, of 20 feet in height, was erected, 
with the American Eagle perched above. 

" The Colonnade (designed l)y lion. Mr. Dawes) 
Avas erected at the west end of the State House, 
adjacent to the Arcli. It was composed of six large 
columns, 15 feet high, and a balustrade hung in 
front with Persian carpets, on Avhich were wrought 
13 roses. The circle of the Colonnade measured 
44 feet, and projected boldly into the main street, so 
as to exhibit in a strong liglit ' The man of the 
'people,'' The central west window of the State 
House was the door thi-ough whic-h the President 
passed to tlie balustrade, descending from a plat- 
form four easy steps, to the floor of the gallery, 
Avhic-h was furnished with arm-chairs, and spread 
with rich car])ets. On this platform was a pedestal 
covered with grt'cn, supporting the figure of Tlent//, 



Proceiiiiioii. 



B08TOW, Oct. 19,' 1789. 

AS this town is shortly to be honoured with a visit from the PRESIDENT of the United States: 
In order that we may pay our respects to him, in a manner whereby every inhabitant may see so 
illustrious and amiable a character, and to prevent the disorder and danger which must ensue from 
a great assembly of people without order, a Committee appointed by a respectable number of in- 
labitauts, met for the purpose, recommend to their Fellow-Citizens to arrange themselves in the following or- 
ler, in a 



P M O C E 






ION, 



It is also recommended, that the person who shall be chosen as head of each order of Artizans, Tradet- 
men, Manufacturers, &c. shall be known by dis]ilaying a WHITE FLAG, with some device thereon expres- 
sive of their several callings, and to be numbered as in the arrangement that follows, which is alphabetically dis- 
posed, in order to give general satisfaction. — The Artizans, &c. to display such insignia of their craft, as they 
can conveniently carry in their hands. That uniformity may not be wanting, it is desired that the several 
Flag-staffs be SEVtlN feet long, and the Flags a iard squarb. 

C)]{DER OF PROCESSION 



MUSICK. 






Goldsmiths and Jewellers, 


The Selectmen, 






Hair-Dressers, 


Overseers of ihe focx. 






Hatters and Furriers, 


Town Treasurer, 






House Carpenters, 


Town Clerk, 






Le.nlher Dressers, ami Leather Breeches ) 


Magistrates, 






.Maker.=, ... J 


Consuls of France and Holland, 






Lininei's, and Portrait Painters. 


The Officers of his MostChristian Wajesly's 


Squadron 


, 


Masons,^ - - . . 


The Rev. Clergy, 






Blnst-makers. . , , . 


Physicians, 






Mathematical InstrumenLmaUcrs, 


Lawyers, 






Millers, .... 


Alercliants and Traders, 






Painters, .... 


Marine .Society, 






Paper Stainerf, 


Masters of Vessels, 






Pewterers, . . . . 


Revenue Officers, 






Printers, Book. binders and Stationers, 


Su^ngers, who may wish to attend. 






Rignejs, 


Bakers, , . . - 


No. 


1. 


Rope-m»keT5, 


Blacksmiths, &c. 


No. 


2. 


Saddlers. .... 


Block.makers,' .... 


No'. 


3. 


Sail.malters, . - . . 


Boat.builders, ... 


No. 


4. 


Shipwrights, to include Caulkers, Ship-joinei 


Cabinet and Chair-makcrs, 


No. 


5. 


Hcad-iiuilJeri and Sawyers, 


Card-maktrs, . . . - 


No. 


C. 


bugar-boilers. 


Carvers, .... 


No. 


7. 


Tallow-Chandlers, Jfcc. 


Chaise and Coach-makcrs, 


No. 


8. 


Tanners. 


Clock and Watch-makers, 


No. 


9. 


Taylors,. .... 


Coopers. .... 


No. 


10. 


Tin-plate Workers, - . . 


Coppersmiths, Braziers and Koundors, 


No. 


1 1. 


Tobacconists, ... 


Cordwainers, &c. 


- No. 


12. 


Truckmen, . - • • 


Distillers, .... 


No. 


13. 


Turneis,, . - - • - 


Duck Manufacturers, 


No. 


14. 


Upholsterers, 


Engravers, 


No. 


15. 


Wharfingers, . . . - 


Glaziers and Plumbers, 


No, 


IB. 


' Whctlwriglits, . . . . 



"1 



No. 


17. 


No. 


IB. 


No. 


19. 


No. 


20. 


No. 


21. 


No. 


22. 


No. 


23. 


No. 


24. 


No. 


25. 


No. 


26. 


No. 


27. 


No. 


211. 


No. 


29. 


No. 


30. 


No. 


31. 


No. 


32. 


No, 


33. 


No. 


34, 


No. 


35. 


No 


36. 


No. 


37. 


No, 


38. 


No 


39. 


No 


40. 


No. 


41. 


No 


42. 


No 


43. 


No 


44. 


No 


45. 


No 


46. 



Seamen, 

f|, B.— In the above arrangement, some trades are omitted — from the idea, that they would incorporate thcmgelve* witli the branches 
mentioned, to which they are generally attached. For instance— it is supposed, that under the head of Blacksmiths, the Armourers, Cutlers, 
>V|iitesmiths and other workers in iron, would be included ; and the same with respect to other trades. 

Each division of the above arrannfement Is requested to meet on such parade as it may agree on, and march into the Mall — No. 1 of the 
Artizans, &.c. forming at the South-end thereof. The Marshalls will then direct in what manner the Procession will move to meet the 
President on his arrival in town. >Vhea the front of the Procession arrives at the e.\tremity of the town, it will halt, and ihe whole will 
then be directed to open ibe column— cue half of cachrank moving to the right, and the other half to the left— and then face inwards, so aa 
to form an avenue through which the President is to jtass, to the galeries to be erected at tlie State-House. 

Iris requested ihat the several School-masters conduct their Scholars to the neighbourhood of the State-House, and form them in audi 
order as the Marshalls shall direct. 

Tut Marine Society is desired to appoint some person to arrange find accompany the seamen . 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 97 

with her Gornucopioe, and other emblems. As soon 
as the President entered this Colonnade he was 
saluted by three huzzas from the citizens, and by an 
Ode (see our Magazine for October, 1789, page 
659), sung by a select choir of singers, seated luider 
the canopy erected over the arch. Tlie whole 
formed an agreealjle sisectacle, and heightened the 
pleasure of the day." 

We also i^resent a fac-simile of the Order of Exer- 
cises on that intei-esting occasion, from a copy 
preserved in the Boston Public Library. 

Finally, the project of a new State House was 
agitated, and the corner-stone thereof was laid 
July 4, 1795, with Masonic honors. It was first 
occupied by the Legislature on the 11th of Jan- 
uary, 1798, when that august body marched in 
procession from the Old State House to the Xew. 

The following description, written by Thomas 
Pemberton, a local antiquary, in 1794, was printed 
in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical So- 
ciety, 1st series, vol. iii., p. 250: — • 

The State House, called the Town House. The building first 
erected I'or governmental business was placed at the head of King- 
street, and was consumed bj' fire in 1711. In the j'ear following 
a new brick building was raised on the same spot and met with a 
Hive fate the 9tli of December, 1747; when some of the records 
and other public papers were destroyed. It was repaired in the 
year following, in its present form, and is in length 110 feet, in 



98 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-PEDICATION. 

bremltli .'58 feet, ami three stories high. On the eeutrc of the 
I'oof is a tower, eousistiiig of three stories, finisiied aceonliiig to 
the Tuscan, Dorie and lonie orders. From the ui)[)er story is an 
extensive prospect of the harbor, into the Ijay and of the country 
adjacent. 

Tlie h>wer floor of the l)nilding serves for a co-\'ered wallc for 
any of the inhal)itants. On this floor are kt'pt tlie ollices of tlie 
elerlis of tlio Supreme Judicial Court and Court of Common Pleas. 
The eharnliers over it are occu[)ied liy the (ieneral Court, the 
scuate in one and the representative Ijody in tlie opposite cham- 
ber. 

Tlie tliird story is approin-iated for the use of the Comniitlees of 
the Oeneral Court. On liie lower floor are ten pillars of the Doric 
order, wliich support the chambers occupied bj' the Legislature. 
This building is in Cornhill, one mile two hundred and scventj'- 
nine yards from Washington street, the late fortification entrance 
IVom tlie neck into tlie town. Its latitude is 42 deg. '2\ niin. 
north ; tlie longitudi^ is 71 deg. 3 min. oO sec. west from Greeii- 
wicli, in England. 

We have already printed (^ante, p. G3) the descrip- 
tion of the building', published in August, 1791, in 
the '^ Massachusetts Magazine." In the same magazine 
for Jidy, 1793, there Avas published a larger engrav- 
ing, here reproduced; but no explanation was given 
except a reference to the earlier issue. 

Another view of the Old State House at this time 
has been preserved to us, being engraved upon the 
policies of the Massachusetts Fire Insurance Com- 
[)any. This association, the first so established in 
tile State, was incorporated in 1795, and remodelled 



IfiCff Inmj 

4 I tOffl I5*j 



i ptli!: 



-i-^ 




\\ 






t^ 



''fli'Mteii 




OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 99 

as the Massachusetts Fire and Marine Company in 
1799. 

The engraving was retouched, probably at the date 
of the assumption of the new title, and the sidewalk 
at the right was sketched in. The other details were 
somewhat modified, so that the second state of the 
plate has been jDreferred for reproduction herewith. 

A copy of the first impression is in the collection 
of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and one of 
the second issue is placed on the walls of the Old 
State House, both given by Heni-y C Short, Esq., 
of Boston. 



After the Legislatui-e had departed, the Town 
House fell upon I'vil days. The town-meetings 
v/ere held in the enlarged Faneuil Hall, with which 
we arc familiar. The courts were transferred to 
the Court House on Court street, and the old build- 
ing was given up to various tenants. The records 
of the town and of the selectmen do not enable us to 
give full details of the occupants. In fact, until 1803 
the title to the estate was in doubt. The State 
claimed the right to sell the property, and to take 
one-half the proceeds. To this the town stoutly de- 
murred, clairain<>- the fee of the land, and a moral 
I'ight, at least, to specify the uses to which the build- 
ing should be put. At the Town Meeting (jf March 



100 OLP STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICxVTION. 

12, 1798, a committee, consisting of William Eustis, 
Josiali Waters, and William Smith, was ai)pointed 
"to confer with a Committee of the General Court 
resjDecting- the disposal of the Old State House." 
(liecords, p. G2.) At the meeting of 'Nov. 5, 
1798, the subject was again referred to William 
Eustis, Samuel Brown, Judge Minot, William Smith, 
and Thomas EdAvards, to report at the adjourn- 
ment. (^Records, p. 91:.) 

Their report was as follows (Becords, p. 99) : — 

Town Meeting Nov. -21, 17l».S. 

"The Coimnittee ai)poiuted to consider certain resolves of the 
Legislature of this Commonwealth relative to the disposition and 
sale of the Old Conrt House [in the margin " Old State House "] 
so called, have attended to the subject, and take leave to report 
as follows. 

" First. The Committee are satisfied that the fee of the Land on 
whieli the House stands, is in tlie Town of Boston, and that thej' 
have likewise erected and reiiaired from time to time nearly one- 
balf of the House ; from whence it results that the Town ought not 
to couseut to the proposal made by the Legislature to appoint 
agents to sell the said House and Land thereto lielonging, and to 
(ilace one half of the proceeds in tlie Treasury of tiie Common- 
wealth. 

"Secondly — The Conniiittee are of opinion that selling 
llie premises to any indiviilual Person or eomi)any will be tittended 
with consequences very injurious to the Town. The purposes for 
which il iiii;4ht and probably would be occupied would tend greatly 
to incumber tlic mcjst frequented street in the Town, whicli is in its 
present state not of sullicient width for public acconnnodation ; 



laittiwiifiWi 



M 







OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEniCATION. 101 

the danger from fire would bo very mnt-li inereased whetlicr tlie ■ 
house is appropriated for Shops, Counting-Houses, or in short 
from any use to wliieh tlie interest of individuals might appro- 
priate it. Beside the increase of real obstructions to the Streets 
on both sides of the House, the Committee are apprehensive that 
the Health of the inhabitants may be exposed by the nuisances 
which a complete occupation of the House would necessarily 
imply. 

" The Committee are of opinion that the Town ought to be 
the owners of the House and Laud in order that it may be ap- 
propriated to no uses of which they shall disapprove. 

" As the PIou""' Legislature appear from their resolves to 
be impressed with an idea that one half of the premises is the 
property of the Commonvvealth, and at the same time have con- 
sented to refer the claim together with that of the Town and of 
the Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk to the Judges of the Supreme 
Judicial Court for a final decision, 

"The Committee conceive that the Town should agree to the 
reference proposed so far as that the Judges shall finally deter- 
mine what part of the premises is the property of the Town. 

" And with respect to the other propcjsal of selling whether by 
public or private side, that the Town should not agree to the 
same, but that the Representatives of the Town be instructed to 
represent to the Legislature the inconveniences which would result 
from a sale to individuals, together with the desire of the Town 
that the}' will inirchase from the State such their proportion of 
the same as the .Judges shall awai'd, at an appraisement to be 
made by three impartial men, to be chosen one by the Legislature, 
one hy the Representatives of the Town, the third by the two first 
or by lot between them if they cannot agree. 

" William Eustis, pr Order." 

The foregoing Report having been read and considered was 
accepted by the Town. 



102 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

After some delay, at the meeting- of ^Nlarcli 1 , 1802, 
the senators of the district and the representatives of 
the town wei'e given fall powers to treat with the 
General Conrt in regard to the Old Town House 
and land. (^EecorcU, p. 141.) 

Again, March 1, 1802, the Selectmen were madL! 
a committee to choose referees for a final adjustment 
of the claim of the State and the Town to the Old 
Town House. (^Records, p. 193.) 

Finally, Feh. 1.5, 1803, a resolve was passed 
(Resolves, c. 95, of 1803), authorizing three com- 
missionei's to sell the Commonwealth's interest to 
the town for the sum of $6,000. A like release was 
obtained from the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, 
for the sums of . f 1.923.13 and |1,176.58 respectively .="> 

■'" Tlio following deed, the original of which now hangs on these walls, is 
reoorik'd in the Suffolk Registry, Vol. 205, f ol. 207 : -r- 

Know all Men by these presents : That we, tlie undersigned, being ap- 
jiointed a Committee by the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts, by tlieir res<dve of the fifteenth of February, one tliousaiid eight 
hundred and three, " and authorized with full power to make sale of all the 
Commonwealth's Estate, riglit, title and Interest, in and to the Old State 
House, to tlie Town of Boston, or such person or jiersons, and on sucli 
terms, as said Committee shall judge will be most for tlie Interest and lionor 
of the Commonwealth and to execute good and sufficient Deed or Deedj of 
release thereof — and to ]).T,y the jiroceeds or deliver the securities which 
they may receive tlierefor, into the Treasury of this Commonwealth." 

For and ill consideration of the sum of six thousand Dollars for tlie use of 
the Commonwealth aforesaid, paid by the Inhabitants of the Town of Bos- 
ton, in the County of Suffolk — tlie receipt whereof we do liereby acknowl- 
edge. Do by these presents, sell, release and forever quit claim unto the said 
Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, all the said Commonwealth's Estate, 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 103 

The toAvn then voted, May 23, 1803 {Records, p. 
241), "on the article hi the warrant, viz. what 

right, title and Interest in and to tlie buililing called tlie Old State House, 
situate at the head of State street, in Boston aforesaid. 

To liave and to hold, tlie above released premises, to the said Inliahitaiits 
of the Town of Boston and their assigns forever. 

In witness whereof. We have hereunto set our hands and seals, in Boston, 

tlie twentv-eiglith day of April, in tlie year of our Lord one thousand eight 

hundred and tliree. 

Enoch Titcomi! & a Seal. 

Aaiiox Hill & a Seal. 

Nicn<)".s TiLLiN(iu.\ST & a Seal. 

Signed, scaled ami ileliver'd in presenee of 

S.\.'\t. C^ZXEAU. 

Edw'u McLane. 
Jacob Kciin. 

Suffolk, ss. Boston, April 29th, 180.3. 

Then the above named Enoeh Titcomi), Aaron Hill and Nicholas 

Tillinghast, Esquires, personally appeared, and in their capacity as aforesaid 

acknowledged tlie foregoing instrument by them subscribed, to be their free 

act and deed. 

Before me 

JouN AvEKV Jus: Peace. 

A True Copy. 

Attest: John Aveuv Secretary. 

In lib. 20,j, fol. 215, is the deed, dated May 21, 1803, by which Setli Bul- 
lard, Thoniiis Williiims, .Ir. , and Mosss Everett, commissioners .apjiointed by 
the Court of General Sessions of tlie county of Norfolk, sold to the town of 
Boston all the rights of that county in the Old State House, for .§1,176. .58. 
This county was in part formed from the old county of Suffolk, wiiich 
had a quarter interest in the building. 

In lib. 206, fol. 236, is a similar deed, dated July 21st, l.soii, from Samuel 
Gardner, Ebenezer Seaver, and Josiah Batcheldor, .similar commissioners 
for the county of Suffolk, to sell that county's right in said building to the 
town of Boston. The whole title is thus clearly vested in our city. 



104 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-PEBICATION. 

measures shall be taken for the disposal and manage- 
ment of the Old State House? . . . that the Com- 
mittee chosen in the several Wai'ds in April last to 
assist the Assessors, l)c appointed a Committee to 
consider this article in the warrant, and to report 
thereon at the Adjournment." 

On Monday, June 13, 1803, the adjourned meeting 
%vas held and the following report made: "After 
some debate it was moved that the sense of the 
Town l)e taken as to the expediency of leasing the 
same, and the question being put, it was passed in 
favour of its being leased. The report was taken 
up, amended, and accepted by the toAvn, and is as 
follows ^^ : — 

That in the opinion of tlic Board of Assistant Assessors, the 
Committee for tlio purpose, it would be for the interest of the 
Town to lease the Old State House for a term of time not less 
tliaa ten nor to exceed twenty years, and the rent to be paid 
quarterly or annually, and that it be a condition of the Lease that 
the house be put into good repair and Kept so during the term for 

^' Tlie records of the Assessors is as follows, ami shows that the town 
essentially amended the report before acceptance, in the interest of the pro- 
tection of the luiildin;; : — 

1803. At a meeting of the assistant assessors held at the Selectmens 
Room by regidar notification to take into consideration and act upon the 
vote of the Tosvn, desiring this Board to make a Report to them of tlie best 
mode in their opinion for the disposal of tlie Old State Ilonse in Boston, 

TiiisTKAM Barnard, Chairman. 

A long conversation took place on the subject for which the meeting was 
called. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 105 

which it may lie leased, b}', and at the expense of tlie Lessee, 
and shall he occupied for ]iiihlic or private offices and such other 

Voted, To adjourn this meeting to Tliursday next at 4 P.M. then to meet 
in tliis mom and tliat tlie Secretary notify the members of the Board thereof. 

•Vdjonrned, Attest W. Waltek, Sec. 

At a meeting of the Board of assistant assessors held by adjournment on 
Thursday Afternoon the at the Selectmens Room, when 

having heard the opinions of the several Members on the subject of the Old 
State House, the following Report was drawn up and adopted l)y a very 
large majority of the Board there being present 

Messrs. Tristram Barnard, Wili-iam Waltkr, 

Asa Hammond, Jno Brazier, Jno Wait, 
Jacob Riioades, Joshua Hall, Jon'^ Loring, 
MiTOHELL Lincoln, Benj Smith, Jacob Holland, 
JosiAH Knapp, Jno Winslow, Nathan Webb, 
Francis Wric.iit, nod Josiaii Wheeler. 

The Board of .\ssistant Assessors wliom tlie Town at their last Meeting 
Voted should take into consideration & report their opinion of the best mode 
for the future disposal and management of the Old State House, having 
attended that Business and very fully considered the subject, beg leave to 
Report : 

That in the oijinion of tliis Board it would bo for the interest of the Town 
to Lease the Old State House, for a term of time not less than Twenty, nor 
to exceed Fifty years : the time to be at the option of the Lessee, and the 
rent to be paid Quarterly ; and that it be a condition of the Lease that the 
House be put into good Repair, and kept so during the term for wliich it 
may be leased, by and at the expence of the Lessee and shall lie occupied 
for public or private offices ^& such other purposes only as the Selectmen 
for the time being shall approve of and that no alteration be made in the 
external form of the Building witliout tlieir approbation. And tliat It 
would be best to dispose of the Lease at Auction. 

Voted. That the above report be signed by the Chairman & presented to 
the Selectmen. 

Voted, That the Meeting be dissolved. 

Attest, W. Walter, Sec. 



106 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

purposes only, as the Selectmen for tlie time being sliiill approve 
of ; and tliat no alteration be made in the external form of the 
building without tlieir approl)ation ; the Lease containing a clause 
jM-oviding that if the Rent shall not lie punctually paid, according 
to the terms of tlie lease, or if the Lessee or Lessees, their heirs or 
assigns, shall not occup}' the estate according to the approbation 
or orders of the Selectmen as before expressed ; or shall suffer it 
to go to waste for want of repairs, that tlien the Selectmen or the 
Town shall have a rigiit to re-enter, and by the re-entry to render 
the Lease void after such re-entrv ; providing however that tlic 
rigiits of re-entry be no bar to an action on the Lease against 
the Lessee or Lessees, their heirs, executors, administrators or 
assigns, if the Town consider such mode to be most eligible : 
and that it would be best to dispose of the lease at public auction. 

Tristram Barnard, Chairman. 
William Walter, Secretary. 

The selectincn were instructed, Mareli 13, 1809, to 
cany into complete effect the condition of tlie lease. 

It would seem that in 1809 a Dr. Kand was one 
tenant; in 1810 a Mr. Barley, and also the Colum- 
bian Insurance Co. In 1811 the office lately occu- 
pied by Mr. Park was divided into smaller rooms. 
In 1812 the cellars were let for three years, for $600, 
to B. Fijstci-, Josiah Siders, and Edward Flood, or 
Floyd. April 29, 1812, the County Treasurer was 
assigned a room adjoining westerly that of the Town 
Treasurer. July 8, 1812, the room lately hired by 
Henry Messenger, and then by Samuel D. Parker, 
Avas valued at $200 rent. In 1813 Mr. Harrington's 
rent was reduced to $120, and applications for a re- 



i 




Sl'^'.'^SS^! 



()L1) SlAll 



ll,,i -1, IS 1^L'1. > I-'riiiii llali>' Siirvc'V.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 107 

duction were made by the Commercial Insurance 
Co., Mr. Floyd, and Mr. Siders. In the spring of 
1816 Mr. H. ]N". Rogers aj^plied in behalf of the gen- 
tlemen associated at Merchants' Hall, and obtained 
leave to use the lanthorn of the Old State House as 
an observatory for ships. The rents then fixed were 
for Mr. Barry, .fSOO; Mr. Rea, |800; Gilbert and 
Dean, |-200; Bcal and Hobart, $150. (Mr. William 
Bai-ry kept a hat-store there in 1826.) Mr. Messen- 
ger declined to pay a rent of $300; and the office 
lately occupied by Mr. Selfridge was let to Mr. 
Parker, for $150. 

On the 20th March, 1816, the building narrowly 
escaped destruction by fire, as the following extract 
from the newspajier shows. The " Columbian Cen- 
tinel " for Saturday, March 22d, reports a fire in 
Fish street, at three o'clock on Thursday morning 
previous, and adds : — 

In the night of the above fire the Old State House narrowly 
escaped destruction, from fire communicating through the foanda- 
tiou of a stove to the floor and joists. Fortunateh' some 
persons who liad been roused early by the preceding alarm, en- 
tered the bouse in season to extinguish the fire, and probably 
saved tlie books and documents in the County and town Treasury 
oHices from being consumed. 

In January, 1817, Mr. Greenwood applied for the 
ujiper part, and was informed that the lowest rent 
would be $1,200. Probably this was Mr. E. A. 



108 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Greenwood, who opened his museum, July 4, 1818, 
ill Court street. 

We copy the following- description from ShaAv's 
History of Boston, printed in 1817: — 

Old State Housk. — -The building first erected for govern- 
uieiital busiuess was placed at the head of King-street, and was 
consumed bj- fire in 1711. In the year following a new brick 
building was raised on the same spot, and met a like fate on the 
9th of December, 1747, when some of the records and other 
public papers were destroj'ed. It was repaired in the year follow- 
ing, in its present form, and is in length one hundred and ten 
feet, ill breadth thirty-eight feet, and three stories high. On the 
centre of the roof is a tower, consisting of three stories, finished 
according to the Tuscan, Dorick and lonick orders. From the 
upper story is an extensive prospect of the harbor, into the baj', 
and of the country adjacent. Tlie lower floor of the building 
served for a covered walk for any of the inhabitants. On this 
floor were kei)t the offices of the clerks of the Supreme Judicial 
Court and Court of Common Pleas The chambers over it were 
occupied ])y tlie (icueral Court, the senate in one and the rep- 
resentative bodj' in the opposite chamber. The third story was 
appropriated for the use of tlie connnittees of the General Court.' 
On the lower floor were ten pillars of the Dorick order, which 
supported the chambers occupied by the Legislature. This 
building is ia Cornhill, one mile two hundred and seventy-nnie 
yards from Washington street, the latc^ fortification entrance from 
the neck into the town. 

Dec. 28, 1819, Col. Daniel Messinger hired his 
room and tlie one adjoining, lately occupied by 
Charles Bridge, foi" $500. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 109 

June 22, 1820, the town voted to lease all the 
rooms above the lower stoiy, except Iwo on Cornhill 
{i.e., "Washington street), for $600, to the Free- 
masons, and the selectmen made a lease accordingly 
for ten j^ears from October 1. The records of the 
Grand Lodge shoAv that the last meeting was June 
9, 1830. 

January 30, 1822, the Directors of the United 
States Bank, being in search of a suitable place, 
offered to buy the building; but the ofter was not 
accepted. 

The following description fi'om the first edition of 
Bowen's " Picture of Boston," 1828-9, shows the con- 
dition of affairs until 1830: — 



Old State House. — The buikling first erected for govern- 
mental business was placed at the head of State-street. It has 
been twice burnt. The last time it was destroyed was in 1747, 
and it was repaired in its present form, in the following j'car. 
The building is in length 110, in breadth 38 feet, three stories 
high, finished according to the Tuscan, Dorick and Ionic orders. 
The lower story of this building is now rented by the city for 
stores and offices, the second and third stories, except one room 
at the west of the second story (which is occupied for the cit^' 
Treasurer's office), are occupied by the Masonic Lodges in Boston. 
The Masonic Hall is elegautl3- embellished ; the decorations and 
furniture are very rich and appropriate, and the room is sufficiently 
ca])acious for most masonic purposes. It measures 43 by 32 feet 
and is IG feet liigh. The following is a list of the lodges that 
hold their meetings here, viz., — 



110 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on tlie second Wednesday in 
December, March, June and September. 

Grand Chapter, 2d Tuesday in December, June and September. 

St. John's Lodge on 1st Tuesday of each month. 

St. Andrew's on 2d Thursday- of each month. 

]\Iassacliusctts on last Friday of each month. 

Columbian on 1st Tliursday of each month. 

Mount Lebanon on last Monday of each montli. 

St. Andrew's Cliapter on 1st Wednesday of each month. 

St. Paul's Cliai)ter on .'3d Tuesday of each month. 

Council of R.M. on last AVednesday of eacli month. 

Encampment on 3d Wednesday of each montli. 

This building, being placed at the head of one of the first 
streets in Boston, has quite a pleasant and imposing appearance 
to the stranger as he npproaelies it from Long Wharf. In Hales' 
" Survey of Boston and A'icinity" the measures of distances are 
reckoned from this building. 

Tlie aceompnnying view is part of a large pictiu'e 
painted, in 182!), })y Salmon, from a point on Pem- 
berton Hill. 

The eity government was inaugurated at Faneuil 
Hal], May 1, 1822, but no ai'i-angements bad been 
made foi- a City Hall. As will be more fully shown 
in xVppendix F, accommodation was obtained for thi; 
various departments in different buildings, the Mayor 
and the City Council being provided for in the Stone 
or County Court-House on School street, on the site 
no\v covered by City Hall. Such a state of affairs 
was of course mconvenient, and the project of a City 
Hall was soon agitated. 







Washington Stkeet End, IScO, 



^W 




State Street End, 18S0. 




Wa^^hington :3Tkeet End. 1»;j5, 



\V'AbHINGTON ?>TRF.ET EnD, 18SU. 



H6L10TVPE PRINTING OO.. ft05^l>^ 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. HI 

In 1830 it was decided to occupy the Old State 
House for city purposes. During these eig-lit years 
the jjreservation of the building had been twice in 
doubt. In November, 1825, it came near destruction 
by fire, as the following vote shows : — 

In Board of Alderinen, January 23, 182G. " It having been 
made known to the Board of Aldennen, that, at the fire in Conrt 
street in November last, Mr. Almorau Ilohnes and Mr. Behi 
Lincoln were instrumental in preserving the City Building called 
the Old State House, by permitting themselves to be let down 
from tlie cupola to the ridge-pole of tlie building, and from tlieuee 
extinguishing the fire that had ah-eady rekindled upon tlie roof 
thereon : Resolved that the thanks of this board be presented to 
them for their distinguished exertions in preserving, with so much 
skill and at so much personal hazard, iu the manner above stated, 
the property of the city from destruction." 

Again, in 182G, the Washington Mi)nument Asso- 
ciation was desirous of obtaining a site for Chan- 
try's statue, now placed in the State House. They 
finally decided that the best place Avould be on the 
site of the Old State Plouse, in a building to be 
erected for the purpose. In a i-eport published by 
the trustees they stated " the reasons which induced 
the Connnittee to prefer the site of the Old State 
House had reference as nuich to the honor and 
interests of the City, to its ornament and con- 
venience, as to the peculiar fitness of this spot for 
the permanent location of a monument in honor of 



112 OLD STATK HOUSE UE-PEDICATION. 

our First Citizen. This place was selected in the 
infancy of our State, as the seat of Legislation and 
Jui-isprudonce. In the edifice there erected, a suc- 
cession of firm, enlightened, and vigorous measures 
of resistance to the usurpations of the British 
ministry were devised and adopted, which must be 
considered as the more immediate causes of our 
ISTational Independence, and it seems to be difficult 
to reconcile the comparatively degraded uses, to 
which that edifice has since been condemned, with 
the unifoi'm ])atriotism, and veneration for the found- 
ers of our Republic, for which the City of Boston 
has been, at all periods of its history, so distin- 
guished." The committee to 2^'"esent this report 
consisted of John Lowell, James Lloyd, John Davis, 
John C. Warren, AVilliam Sullivan, and Edward 
Everett. Objection, however, was made by the 
public, and the bnildiug happily escaped destruction 
at the hands of those wlio esteemed themselves its 
friends. 

The work of restoration, in 1830, was confided to 
Isaiah Rogers, and he entrusted part of the details to 
a young architect just beginning the series of works 
which makes the name of WilliauT Washburn familiar 
to us. It Avas a time when classical types were in 
vogue, and, therefore, the additions were patterned 
on Grecian models. Heavy wooden porticos were 
added at each end, and these halls on the second 




i 




iU! Ill ill iU'iliiilaTTw 



CiTV Hall, 1830. 
(From Snow's Geoyrapliy.) 




CiTV Hall, IS/if.. 
(From Berwick Co.'s Miiji.) 




<-'iM ll.n.i,, i^.;,s. 
(Bowen's rictiire.) 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 113 

floor were fitted to the uses of the City Council. 
In this room tlie Aldermen met; in the Repre- 
sentatives' Hall the Common Council. The pre- 
ceding extracts from Bowen and Shaw, with the 
accompanying' pictiu-es, fully illustrate this occu- 
pancy, which lasted for ten years, until 1840, and 
which, indeed, is recollected by many of our 
citizens. 

To complete the record we copy the following 
from the third edition of Bowen's "Picture," dated 
1838, when there was already a discussion about 
leaving the building : — 

City Hall. — The first building for governmental business was 
erected at the head of what was then called Kiug-street, about 
1658. It has been twice burnt. The last time it was destroyed 
was 1747, and it was repaired in the following year nearly in its 
present form. The building is in length 110, in breadth 38 feet, 
three stories high, finished according to the Tuscan, Doric and 
Ionic orders. Till recently it was called the " Old State House." 
The latitude of this building is very near 42 deg. 21 min. north ; 
the longitude is 71 deg. 3 min. 30 sec. west from Greenwich, iu 
England. 

After the Revolution, it was the place of meeting for the 
General Court, till after the completion of the State House near 
Beacon Hill. From about that time, to the year 1830 (thirty 
years), tlic lower floor and cellar were used by various tradesmen, 
Insurance Offices, etc. 

On the 17th Sept., 1830, having been thoroughly repaired, it 
was, by an ordinance of the City Government, called the " City 
Hall," — by which name it has since been designated. It stands 



Hi OLD STATE HOUSE liE-BEDICATIOX. 

at the head of State street and on the Hnc of Washington street, 
the Broad waj' of the metropolis of Massachusetts, ha\-ing a tower 
overlooking most of the city and harbor, rising from the centre of 
the I'oof. The fronts on Washington and State streets have each 
a portico. Being in the very focns of business and nearly in the 
centre of the city, the use to which this venerable pile is now 
devoted appears to give universal satisfaction. 

Ou tlie first floor are three large rooms ; that facing Washing- 
ton street is the Post-Oftico. At the other extremity, looking 
down State street, is Toplift"s News Room, one of the best con- 
ducted establishments, for the accommodation of merchants, in tlie 
United States. The middle room, a lofty apartment, supported 
by pillars, is the Merchants' Exchange, and common thorough- 
fare to the public offices 

From this central room is a flight of winding stairs, leading to 
a suite of apartments in the second storj'. Directly over the Post- 
Offlee is the Ilall of the Common Council, in which they ordinarily 
meet on public business. In the. opposite end of the building is 
the Hall of the Mayor and Aldermen. In this room the chief 
Magistrate of the city, togetiier with the City Clerk, remain 
throngli tlie day, in the discharge of tlicir ordinary duties. The 
Board of Aldermen liold tlieir meetings, also, on Monda}' even- 
ings. Around the circular area of the stairs .are a series of 
Offices, viz., the Auditor's, Treasurer's, Assistant City Clerk's, 
Clerk of Common Council, and the Health Office, which latter 
accommodates the City Marshal, Superintendent of Buri.al Grounds, 
Physician of tlie Port, Captain of the Port, Captain of the Watch, 
Su'Dcriutendent of Lamps, and the Commissioner of Streets. 

Another flight of stairs leads to the third story, in which is the 
Office of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Depaitment, City Land 
Commissioner, Messenger, a Committee Room, and a large Hall, 
in which is a recently organized puljlic Vaccine Listitution, for the 
gratuitous inoculation of the poor. 







■ -^LS^ttu) 




VlEW OF Tin; >'|1(K IN 1^ 




jFrom .Saliuun's i'icture.j 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 115 

The whole is lighted with gas, as well as the lamps at the four 
corners of the building. Besides hoing ornamental to the city, 
the concentration of so many imi)ortant oflices under one roof 
renders the Citv Hall an ol)ject of peculiar interest. 

On the 21st of November, 1S32, aljout five o'clociv in the morn- 
ing, this ancient building, the scene of so many interesting events, 
again took fire from an opposite building, under the slool of one 
of the Lutheran windows, which soon communicated with the 
under side of the roof, and had it not been for the uncommon ex- 
ertions of the fire department it must have been completely pros- 
trated in a little time. As it was, however, the damages were 
casil}- repaired. The appropriation of the Council for the purpose 
was $3,500.00. No papers of importance, were lost, and the 
curious records of the city, from its first settlement, for a third 
time, were safely rescued from a devouring element. 

In Hales' " Survey of Boston and Vicinity," the measures of 
distance are reckoned from this building. 

The building' was, for a third time, put in peril, 
when, on the 21st of November, 1832, the fire in 
a building opposite was communicated to the roof 
of this building-, but, happily, was soon arrested. 
Salmon's picture of the event is familiar to us all, 
having been engraved on the diplomas of the Fire 
Department. Surely we may say of the venerable 
tower, almost in Longfellow's words, — 

" In ttie market-place of Bruges, stands the belfry old and brown, 
Thrice consumed and thrice rebuilded, still it watches o'er the town." 



After the removal of the City Hall to its School- 
street site, this building was again abandoned to 



11(5 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATIOX. 

business purposes, and, in the hands of successive 
lessees, it rapidly deteriorated. A hideous mansard 
roof disfigured its external lines; new partitions 
obliterated for the time the fair proportions of these 
halls; signs, telegraph wires and poles in countless 
number contributed to the shameful defacement. 
The annexed copy of an engi-aving issued at that 
date portrays the wreck better than any description 
can. So completely were the memories of the site 
forgotten, and so arrogant were the fancied demands 
of commerce, that, in 187.3, it was almost decided 
to pull down the building. Hajjpily better counsels 
prevailed, and the building was spared, though 
even then it received a fresh injury in the form 
of a huge stairway cut through the walls of the 
eastern end, as shown in the picture of that date. 
In 1881, the City Council authorized that work of 
restoration, which, on its com])letion, is to-day 
submitted to your consideration. 

A complete account of what has been done is to 
be read in Appendix G, furnished by the City 
Architect. It will be enough to state at present, 
that we now behold substantially the same halls 
which echoed the eloquence of Adams, Quincy, 
Otis, and Wai-ren, and which witnessed the baffled 
intrigues of Hutchinson and Oliver, and the un- 
successful plans of Gage and Clinton, Howe and 
Burgoyne. 




Q 
■< 

Sa 
O 
O 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 117 

"When, in 1830, Harrison Gray Otis, then mayor 
of the city, stood here to welcome the inauguration 
of his government, he thus addressed the Council 
in regard to this building: — 

It exhibits no pomp of architoctural grandeur or refined taste, 
and has no pretensions to vie witli the magnificent structures 
of otlier countries or even of our own. Yet it is a goodlj' and 
venerable pile ; and with recent improvements is an ornament 
of the place, of whose liberty it was once the citadel. And it 
hag" an interest for Bostonians who enter it this day, lilie that 
which is felt by grown children for an ancient matron by whom 
they were reared, and whom, visiting after years of absence, 
the^' find in her neat, chaste, old-fashioned attire, spruced up to 
receive them, with her comforts about her, and the same kind, 
hospitable, and excellent creature whom they left in less flourish- 
ing circumstances. But to this edifice there is not only a natural, 
but " a spiritual bod}'," which is the immortal soul of Independ- 
ence. Nor is there, on the face of the earth, another building, 
however venerable for its antiquity, or stately in its m.aguificeuce, 
however decorated by columns and porticos, and cartoons, and 
statues and altars, and outshining the wealth of Ormus or of 
Ind, entitled in history to more honorable mention, or whose 
spires and turrets are surrounded with more glorious halo than 
this unpretending building. 

I refer you to the day when Inilepcndence, mature in age and 
loveliness, advanced witli angelic grace from the chamber in which 
she was born into tlie same balcony', and holding in her hand the 
immortal scroll on which her name and character, and claims to 
her inheritance were inscribed, received from the street, filled with 
an impenetrable phalanx, and windows glittering with a blaze of 
beauty, tlie heartfelt homage and electrifying peals of men, 



"118 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

women, .111(1 chiklreu of the whole city. The splendor of that 
glorious vision of iny childliood seems to be now present to my view, 
and the harmony of tliat universal concert to vibrate in my ear. 

Wo, gentlemen, have now become, for a short period, occu- 
pants of this Temple of Liberty. Henceforlh, for many years, 
the City Government will probably be here administered. 
May we, and those who will succeed us, appreciate the respon- 
siblcuess attach'^d to our places by the merit of our predecessors ; 
and though we cannot serve our country to the same advantage, 
may we !o\e it witli equal fidelity. And may ihe guardian genius 
of our I)eloved city forever delight to dwell in these renovated 
walls ! 

After tlie lapse of half a century we assemble to 
renew these pious labors, and to repeat his fervent 
prayers for their success; but the times are more 
l)r()[)itious for us, since the jDresent generation has 
been taught auew tlie necessity of perpetually culti- 
vating those patriotic virtues Avliicli alone can ani- 
mate a nation in times of adversity. 

Twenty years have passed since the assembled 
citizens of Boston were again aroused, from the 
balcony of this chamber, by the eloquence of those 
speakers who uttered the cry, "To arms! " 

God grant that in our day that appeal may never 
again be made;. but should the necessity arise, it must 
be made to a community which has been daily 
familiar with the lessons taught by the memories of 
these halls as well as of the " Cradle of Liberty," — 
Faneuil Hall. 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 119 

"Here the child Independence was born!" and 
what untold glories in the future that birth por- 
tended ! The independence for which our fathers 
fought Avas freedom of thought, speech, and action in 
every land and in every generation. The chain 
which they broke was not simply that of Great 
Britain over America, but the greater fetters of 
usurped anthoi-ity over the bodies and minds of - 
millions in other lands. To our success is to be 
attributed whatever liberty has been achieved for the 
suffering nations of Europe, or for the long-enslaved 
Aactims of unwai-i-antable oppression in our own land. 
I had thought I had recited all the stirring events 
connected with this building, but I pause to add that 
it afforded a temporary shelter to William Lloyd 
Garrison, as he was unwillingly rescued from the mis- 
guided rage of a pro-slavery mol). Let us rejoice 
that we to-day can assert, that, among the results 
of that Independence which was first proclaimed 
on this spot, has been the purging of the Great 
Eepublic of the anomalous stain and reproach of 
domestic slavery. 

And, sui-ely, if we have, at so great cost of treasure 
and blood, expiated our national sin, we may turn, 
with expectant gaze, to our sister nations for a simi- 
lar sacrifice. The independence which we inculcate 
demands that, wherever, undei- any professed form of 
law, the labor of the peasant pi-ofits only his master, 



120 OLII STATU HOUSE KK-DKDICATION. 

that iniquity shall cease, — whether it be in the 
familiar case of Ireland, whose wrongs meet with so 
prompt a response in kindred bosoms here, — or of 
Russia, where the lui'id torch of Nihilism reveals 
the misery of untold millions, — or wherever else the 
wretched serf looks eagerly to the land of promise 
on this side of the Atlantic. 

Fellow-citizens, so long as we maintain the sacred 
fires upon the altars, we may claim the i-ight to be 
esjjecially favored l)y the divinity. I cannot allow 
myself to dwell upon the jiossibility of any future 
sm-render of these walls to auy purpose less appro- 
pi'iate than that we now celebi-ate. I cannot antici- 
pate any decrease in the prosperity or the public 
spirit of our beloved city. I can only predict that 
future generations, for centuries to come, will visit 
this spot and Avill remember us thankfully for what 
we have this day done. 

To you, Mr. Mayor, as the highest i-epresentativc 
of the city, I now transfer the care and custody of 
the Old State House, felicitating you upon the hon- 
orable duty, and congratulating the city tliat it 
devolves upon one so well qualified, by assiduous 
study, to appreciate the value of this acquisition. 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 121 

At tlip conclusion of Mr. Wliitniore"s :uldi-ess, His Honor 
Mayor Green said : — 

MAYOK GREEN'S REMARKS. 

Mr. Chairman: — The Old State House to-day 
comes back to the city, and as the chief executive 
office.!" I greet the venerable structm'e with a warm 
and hearty Aveleome. After an occupation oi' many 
years for purposes of general business, these halls 
are now to be used for the reception and preserva- 
tion of historical objects of local interest. The com- 
mittee of which you are at the head, Mr. Alderman, 
having this matter in charge, deserve the thanks of 
the community, for tlie way in which it has been 
done. I know full well that the work has fallen 
largely on the shoulders of the Councilman who has 
given us this morning his interesting and instructive 
address, and it is through his untiring zeal as an 
antiquary that this jilan has been brought to a suc- 
cessful issue. I sympathize most warmly with him 
in the expression that the use we now give to these 
halls ma}^ be the permanent one. He has told how 
this building was erected as a town-house, and 
traced its history from the earliest days to the 
present time. Its close connection with the various 
l^olitical events of our city and State makes it a 
conspicuous monument in our local annals. 



122 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATIOX. 

The formal dedication of a public luiilding is a 
custom of comparatively modern times. The found- 
ers of Kew England were too busy to indulge in 
mere formalities; and, even if they had the time, they 
were apt to look upon such observances as idle and 
frivolous. They regarded the various purposes to 
which a building was put as in themselves a sufficient 
dedication; and for this i-eason they avoided any 
special ceremony to emphasize its objects or uses. 
While it is true, then, that this structure was nevei- 
formally dedicated, it is equally true that it Avas con- 
secrated by all that was high and noble in patriotic 
service, througli the words that were spokeu and the 
deeds that were inspired within its walls. 

The political town-meeting is an outgrowth of 
I^ew England life, and it has been the very cradle of 
American liberty and independence. It originated 
Avith the first comers and has been kei)t up by their 
successors till the present time. The freemen of the 
several towns came together in public meeting to dis- 
cuss and settle questions of geueral interest. They 
chose town officers, to whom Avas delegated the 
poAver to manage their ciAdI as well as ecclesiastical 
affairs. It was at such gatherings that a free and 
full recognition of popular rights Avas first made in 
this country, and the very foundation and corner- 
stone of oui- pi'esent political system laid. The best 
insight of the forces that developed local self-gov- 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 123 

eminent is to be found in the action of such meet- 
ings. The causes tliat brought about tlie separation 
of the American colonies from the motlier country 
were ripening during many years, but they were kept 
alive and active by these public assemblages. Bos- 
ton Avas the largest and most influential town on the 
continent, and was always ready to take the lead in 
jjublic affairs. When she spoke, her voice was heard 
with no doubtful sound, and she had all 'New Eng- 
land for an audience. Her utterances wei-e given 
from this building as well as from Faneuil ITall and 
the Old South Meeting-house. These three struct- 
ures are full of historical reminiscences and associa- 
tions, and I envy not the man who can approach 
any one of them with ordinary feelings. liude 
though they are in external foi-m they reijresent 
in their traditions the highest form of religion 
and patriotism, as understood by tlie framers of 
our government. He lacks some of the human 
sensibilities whose heart is not thrilled, and whose 
emotions are not quickened, when he enters their 
portals. 

I do not forget the fact that this building Avas 
occui)ied by the municipal authorities during a period 
of ten years. On Sept. 17, 1830, the two hundredth 
anniversary of the settlement of Boston, the City 
Government, under the Mayoralty of Harrison Gray 
Otis, took possession of these apartments^ and used 



124 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

them until March 18, 1811. It was under this roof 
that the administrations of Charles Wells, Theodore 
Lyman, Samuel T. Armstrong, and Samuel A. Eliot 
were carried on; and it was while Jonathan Chap- 
man was Mayor that the city offices Avere again 
removed to the City Hall, standing between Court 
square and School street. Whatever may be the fate 
of other public buildings, let us cherish the hope that 
the Old State House may stand as a connecting link 
between the provincial and national ])eriods of our 
country's history, and that it may continually remind 
us of the luiselfish devotion and hai-d struixtrles of 
the men who laid the foundation of our present gov- 
ernment. 

Alderman Hersey. — I recognize among our 
honored guests to-day, the face and foi-m of him 
whose memory extends far back into the past, and 
who, I know, can give us some pei'sonal reminis- 
cences connected with this building. I allude to 
the Hon. Marshall P. AYilder. 

RE'NIAKKS OF HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 

I did not expect, Mr. ^Nlayor, and Mr. Chairman, 
to be called upon here to say a single word to-day. 
At my time of life, and under this oppressive heat, 
my words nuist be very few. Bui I rejoici! fi"om the 
bottom of my lieart thai 1 am able to be here on this 



OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 125 

consecrated spot, and participate in the ceremony of 
the restoration of the Old State House. 

I say my -words must be few; but I desire to 
tender to His Honor the Mayor, and to the City 
Government, the thanks of the Historic-Genealogi- 
cal Society, in their behalf and in- my o-wn; I desire 
to thank you for the wisdom of makmg the appro- 
priation which has placed again, as we believe, ijiuch 
in its old style, this building of former days; and I 
desire to thank Mr. Wliitmore for his energetic, 
enterprising, persistent, and successful labors in bring- 
ing again into this form, this structure, so ancient, 
and so renowned in the history of this city, because 
of the events, so graphically described by Mr. AV hit- 
more and His Honor the Mayor, which ti-ansj^ired 
upon this spot. Here Independence drew its first 
breath. This spot, now consecrated by the restora- 
tion of this buildmg, will perpetuate the history of 
those men, -who, more than any othei-s, led in the 
American revolution, and gave to the world the first 
great, free, and independent nation on earth. 

The. Avork has been well accomplished. Nothing 
could be more approiDriate ; and the provision made 
for it by the City Government, I am sui-e you will 
all say, could not have been more judiciously ex- 
pended. For I hold that next to training the spirit 
for the life eternal, there is no obligation more 
solemn than that of perpetuating to future genera- 



126 OLD STATE IIUl'SE UE-DEUICATION. 

tions the principles and virtues of those noble men 
who gave to the world this great republic, — principles 
and virtues upon which must ever rest the happiness 
and prosperity of all our people. 



This ended tlie fonual exercises. The foUowhig letters, 
addressed to the Chairman of the Connnitteo, Alderman 
Woolley, were not read, owing to his al)sence ; but they arc 
worthy of preservation in the history of the celeliration : — 

Commonwealth or Massachusetts, 

Executive DurAUTJiEXT, .July 8, 1882. 
My dear Mr. Alderman : — I thank you for your kind invi- 
tation to the re-dedication of the OIil State House, with its 
interesting associations. I am un:\lile to accept on account of 
engagements at the same liour, but I beg to send my kindest 

wishes for tlie occasion. 

Very truly j'ours. 

JOIIK D. LONG. 

Wm. Woollev, Esq. 

Navy Yard, Boston, 
Commandant's Office, July 10, 1882. 
Dear Sir : — I have had the honor of receiving your kind 
invitation to attend at the Old State House to-morrow to partici- 
pate in the ceremonies of the re-dedieation of that ancient :uid 
interesting structure. I greatly regret that my health is sucli 
that I will not lie able to attend. 

"With many thanks to you and to INIr. Whitmorc, I have the 

honor to be, 

Very respectfully yours, 

O. C. BADGER, Cmmodore, U.S.N. 

WiLLUM Woolley, Esrj., 

City Council, City Uall, licistoiL 



APPENDICES. 



APPENDICES. 



APPENDIX A. 



Copies of Orifjinal Papers, in the possession of tlie 
Massachusetts Historical Society, roliitinjjr to the Erec- 
tion of the Town House in Boston in 1057. 



POWER CONFERRED BY THE COMMITTEES FOR THE TOWN 

HOUSE — 1657. 

AVoo whose names are vnder wrig;hten having full power given vs by the 
Town of Boston to Agree with workmen, & in their hehalfe to Engadge the 
Town, In tlie Payment of anj' sum or sums for the building Erecting & Coni- 
plealing of A house fortlie Town both for the forme &dimentions &o. accord- 
ing as we shall Judge meet. They the s'' Towne having Engadged themselves 
to own & stand by vs and pforme what promises Covenants or Engadgm wee 
should make in order to the accomplishing of the premises. And to facillitate 
the s'l worke we the s'' subscribed doe make choyee of M Edward Hutchinson 
& John Hull in o behalfe to Agree & Compound with workmen & Engadge 
paym^ in eyerie respect for the s'^ worke & we doe hereby oblidge o"" selves to 
itand liy, own, & performe wluvt the s'l M' Ed: Hutchinson & Jn Hull Soe 
deputed shad doe or Engadge themselves in as iff it was tlie personall act of 
everie one off vs & heervnto we subscribe o^ hands, by this binding o"" selves 
likewise to own what the s'' prtyes have allridy done in the s't worke signed 
this 31 of the G"" month 1(557. 



Toirnesmen 
Commissioners 



Tiio: Marshall 
Samukl Cole 
William Paddv 
Josh: Scottow 
Jer: Howchin 



AGREEMT FOR THE TOWN HOUSE — 1G57. 

Boston, August 1, 1657. 

Wee whose names are vnder wrightcn Being chosen by & in behalfe of tlie 
Towne of Boston, to bargain & Contract with some able workmen about A 



130 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



house for the Town, we have bargained & Contracted, & liy these presents doe 
bargain & Covenant »'itli Thomas Joy and Bartholomew Bernad of Boston ; & 
the s'' Tlioraas Joy & Bartli Bernad, are heerby liound & doc oblidge tliem- 
selves vnto tlie s'' Town of Boston (& in vn [to] In tlieire belialfe) tliat they 
will Prepare & Erect, a very substantial! and Comely building In the i)lace 
Appointed by the s'^ Town ; The dimentions of W'' Edifice shall be sixty six foot 
in Length, and thirty six foot in Breadth from out side to out side, set vpon 
twenty one Tillers of full ten foot high between I'edestall & Capital], & 
well brased all four waies, placed upon foundation of stones in the bottome. 
The whoU Building to Jetty over three foot without the I'illers everie way : 
The height of the s'' House to be ten foot betwixt Joynts above the Pillers, 
and a halfe storie above that with three gable Endes over it vpon each 
side : A walke vpon the Top fourteen or 15 foote wide with two Turrets, & 
turned Balasters and railes, round about the walke acconUug to A model! or 
drauglit Presented to vs, by the s'l Tho; Joy, & Barth: Bernad. The s'' Tho: 
Joy & Bartli. Bernad Likewise finding things necisarie and meet for thes* 
Building viz : Timber in in everie respect & of everie sort, substantial! & meet 
according lO Proportion & Art, Plank for tlie sides & ends three Inch thick,* 
well groved into one another, and into the timbers allso an Inch and halfe ; 
well plained and smoothed on Both sides, two Inch planlc for the lower 
floor, and full Inch for the vpper Hoor, Botli smoothed, and vpon the wallc 
duble boarded and well groved; the Kooff well boarded & shingled, witli 
gutters sufficiently made. 

Bringing all to the Place, Erecting finishing &'Compleating the whole Edi- 
fice viz The Frame, foundations, Floores, staires (viz Two pair halfe paced 
staires & turned staires vp into the walke) doores, window Cases & Casements 
mantle peeces Inclosurcs Pertitions t &cThe whoU Edifice to be Erected, by 
the thirty daye of the fourth month called June next ensuing the date hcer- 
ofT; and Covered and shingled within six weekes after that. The Town find- 
ing all the Iron worke, as nailes iiookes hinges &c. glass with glasingand Lead 
for the Gutters inasonrie worke as the chimnies, foundation of the Pillers with 
stone brick & Lime belonging to the same the affo's'' Tho: & Barth: all the 
other worke as affo,"' The Town finding help at the raysing. 

In consideration of tlie iiremises we doe heerby olilidge ourselves (accord- 
ing to order & in belialfe of tlie s'' Town of Boston atfors'') To give & Assigne 
over vnto the s'^ Tho: Joy & Barthol: Bernad or to either of them or their 
assignes the three Ilund: Pounds vr''^ is that Part of tlie Legacy of Cap' Kob 
Keyne (deceased) designed & bequeathed vnto the s'' Town in his Last will for 
ther vse, and also one bund. Pound more we heerliy oblidge o''selves to Pay 
or Cause to bepaied vnto the s''Thomas & Bartholomew or tlieir Assignes In 
good English goods at price Currant, and likewise to doe our vttmostthatone 
fility iiound of this above mentioned paym' (viz out of the thre Hun'') maybe 
made in niony for the more lively cavsing an end of the allocs"! worke. 

The time w"'' Payment shall be as followeth viz : one Ilund. Pound at tlie 
Bringing of the Timber to the Place A second Ilund: at the raysing A third 
Ilund: at the inclosure & Covering A fourth at the finishing and Compleating 
vnto all these premises aboves'i we doe heerby Joyntly & sever.aly mutualy &. 
Interchangeably bind o'selves by o'' hands & scales tliis first of August, 1(157. 

We doe also engadge that the three Ilund: pound in the Legacy above s"" 
shall be made good vnto the s'' workmen Thomas & Bartholomew. 
Witness heer vnto 

Joseph Nkwgate Edward IIuTcmx-SON [seal] 

James Budwxk John Hull [seal] 

Henry Powning 



* Only we .^Iow of Two Inch piniik for the sides & enda above the Phites & heames. 

t There is to be both RoomeH from the chimnice clufied on botli hides and one Cross partition 
in one of the Rooraes; beside the stair case. 



APPENDIX A. 



i;}i 



COPY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION PAPEK FOR THE FIRST TOWN 
HOUSE IN BOSTON, ERECTED BETWEEN 1G57 AND IfiSO. 

Wliearas thcar is giuen a considcrabl same by Capt Kayne towars the 
BuliUng of a tciwne house W^'> sum will not ataine the Bulding; w"'' he men- 
tionoth in his will, now eonsidering the vsef uUnes of such a structure we whose 
names are vnder written, doc ingag or seines or heyres executors for to giue 
towards the abou sd hous and alsoc a condit in the market place the severall 
sumes vnder written. 



17. pd 
pd 
pd 

pd 4G s 



pd 



pd 
pd 
pd 
pd 
pd 

paid 

paid 
l>d 
pd 

paid 
pd 

paid. 

paid 
pd 
pd 

pd 
paid 



paid 

pd 
paid 
paid 
paid 

pd 
paid 

[ ] PJ 
paiil 
paid 
paid 
paid 



£ 
2- 
10- 
10- 
010^ 
10- 
03- 



-10—00 
-00—00 pd 
-00—00 pd 
lOO— 00 pd 
:00— 00 
■00-00 



Jo: Endecott 

Ri Bellingham in Country pay 

Edward Tynge in Corne .... 

John Euered in goods and corne . 

Peter OUiuer in goods ami provisions 

John' Barrett : in goods : or corne 

d. 2J Aug. 1G5S 
James OUiuer provided there be a Cunditwithall in 

goods and provisions cqelly 
Will Paine in goods and provisions 
Rieliard Parker in goods and provisions 
Nathaniell Williams in goods 
Sarah Parker in provisions .... 
Henry Powning in goods .... 
John Cogan in Corne ...... 1 

[ ] five pound ...... j" 

Theodore Atkinson will give in hats 

Tho Ilowkings ...... 

John Hull In English goods five'" 
ThouK's Clarke in provision or goods 
Robt Turner . . ■ . 
Richard Cooke in provisions .... 

Robert Swift 

Samuel Hutchinson in wheat .... 

Josh Seottow in pvision or goods .... 5 

Will'" Hudson will : pay in bricks lyeme 

boards [ ] or timber the some of . . . 10: 
Hezekiah Usher : will pay 2 In English 

Goods or equivolent, twentye : poundes, 

prouiso ; y* y*^^ market house bee Errected 

in y» niarkett place- & a Cunditt. . . . 20r=:00::z:00 pd 
W'" I)auis will pay in goods & corne Fifteene pounds 

provided y^ market-house be eerccted in y" markctt 

place & a conduitt also raised & Finisheil . . 15 — — 

Thomas Buttolph 02- 

James Penu ........ 05- 

Jacob Sheafe in provision & gooils . . . 12- 

Tho: Lake 4 In English-goods & 4 In provisions . 09- 
Isaak Waker in English goods or provisions . . 03- 
John Sunderline 3£ . . . . . . 03- 

Robt: Pateshall, in planke or boards ... 05 
Thomas Matson ....... 1- 

John Williams ....... 0- 

Thomas Edsell 00- 

Tliomas Bligh 00- 



- 0-00 pd 
00. 00 

-00-00 pd 
-00-00 pd 
-00-00 pd 
-00-00 pd 

05—00—00 pd 

:00 :00 pd 

0— 
-00-00 pd 
-00—00 pd 
-0-0 pd 
10 00 pd 
. 10 00 pd 
, 00-00 pd 
:00— 00 pd 

^00=00 pd 



12- 

15 . 
10- 
03- 
05- 
02- 



005 
02 
05 
04- 
5 
03 
02 



■00—00 
-00—00 
-00—00 
■00 :00 
■00—00 
■00=00 
00 :00 
- 0— 
-10— 
-10— 
-15 00 



132 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



paid Richard OrMley 
paid Jolin Button . 

Benjamin iScgus 

James Euoritt in Flower 

Robt Batterly 
paid Jolin Coney . 
paid Saniuell JIattocke . 
paid Ricli'' Stanes . 
paid Rowland Story in Lewtenant 
paid Ri Wa^te 
paid Phillip Whorton 
paid Augusten Clement . 
paid Richard Woodde in provision 
l)aid John Phillips . 
paid Tho Emons . 
paid Thomas Littell thre daycs w 

Humphrey Bradshaw thre d; 

Joseph Bondc ten shilings b 

George Brome a bushel whe 
paid William Paddy 
jjaid Henry Kemble 
paid Thomas Makepeace 
paid Joshua Hewes 

Ffrances Smith 
paid Francis Douse 
paid Jolm Pierce . 
paid Simon Eire 
paid Comfort Starr 
paid Henry Phillips 
paid Henry Shrimpton Corne wooi 
paid John Lowel . 
paid George Munioy three pounds 
paid Jno. Joyliffe . 
paid Amos Richardson . 
pd Edmond GrenlefF . 
pd Edward Porter 
paid Nicholas I'liillips . 
pd Thomas Ilarwood . 
paid Thomas Brattle 
jjaid Thomas Baker in Iron worke 
paid John Biggs in Shingle or wo 
paid Jo: Marshall in shoes 
paid Henry Alline [ ] 
paid Hugh Drury . 
paid Jolin CoUens . 
paid Tliomas Scotto 
paid Nathanell Thorn . 
paid John I'ears 
jiaid William Reade 
jiaid Will. Tay 
paid Jo". Blacklach 
])aid John Clough . 
paid Sam" Davice . 
paid Samnell Cole . 
paid Christopher Gibson 
paid Robert Nanney 
paid Henry Bridgham . 
paid Thomas Waker 



Cook 



[ 



irke 



orke 
Samell Lemis 



rke 



hand 



02—00—00 
05—00— 

01-00-00 
00— 1.")— 00 
00-15-00 

00— 7—00 
00—10-00 

01 :00 :00 
02—00-00 
02—00-00 

1— 0— 

01— 0— 
03— 0— 

1— 0— 
00—10— 
00—10— 
00—10— 
00-04-00 
12— 0— 
00—10— 
01-00 . 
00—10— 
00 . 10-00 
00—00— 
s4— 00 — 

1 . 10 . 
01—00-00 
05—00—00 
10—00—00 
03-00 00 
03—00-00 
03 . 00 . 00 

02 : 00 . 00 
0—10— 
1— 0— 
0—10— 
1—00— 
5— 0— 

01—00— 

002-00-00 

01— 0— 

01-00-00 

01—00 

1— 0— 

1— 0— 

0—10— 

1— 0— 

00-10-00 

00—10—00 

01—00—00 

00—10—00 

00—05-00 

02-00-00 

02-00-00 

02—00—00 

10—00-00 

12—10—00 



APPENDIX B. 



133 



paid 

paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 

paid 
paid 
paid 

pd 
paid 
paid 
pd 10s 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 



paid 

pd 

pd OS 



paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 



Natlianell ReynoUs .... 

Jolin llaH'liines tobaco 
Artliur Masson ..... 
Ann Carter 10s ..... 
James Dauis by Tbo: Joy fis & -is more 
Daniel Turill ...... 

Tliomas Fiteli 

Edmund Jaeklin in glass or worke if I be 

coiitry when the liouse is to be glassed 
William Gibson ..... 

Jeremy Castine ..... 

Edmund .Taekson by Tliomas Fay . 
Miells Towne in lether .... 

William English — in shoes . 
Joseph Howe Twenty Shillings 
Samuel Norden in shoes 
Kobert Nash in worke .... 

Mathew Barnes — paid 1 — — 3 
Thomas Dewer ..... 

William Corser ..... 

Bartholomew Chccver 30 s . 

Henery Messenger — paid 

Will. Colhurn in [ ] or provision paid IC 

Edward Goodwin ..... 

James .Johnson in his Comodityes . 

John Newgat promise to give five pound 

[ ] the prevelcdg of our [ ] 
Thomas Bumsted of Boston promise 
Natha. Dunean ..... 

Peter Dunean ...... 

John .John Wiswall. .... 

Joseph Wise 



n til 



01—00 00 
01—00-00 
00—10—00 

00 — 10 . 00 
00—10-00 
01—00-00 
OJ— 10— 00 

01—00—00 
00—05-00 
01—90—00 
01—00—00 
00— .5s— 00 
02—00-00 
01— 0— 
00—10— 
01-10—00 
1—10-00 

01 — 00— 
00—10— 
01—10— 

0—10— 
3 . 00 00 

0— or,— 00 

02 :00 :00 

10-00-00 
1—00—00 
2—. .— . .— 
1—10—00 

02—10— 
2—00—00 



APPEXDIX B. 



VOTES AND ACTS IN REGARD TO REBUILDING THE TOWN 
HOUSE AFTER THE FIRE IN 1711. 



To his Excellency Joseph Dudley EsqrCapt General & Governourin Chief 
of Her Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay, the Honoble the Coun- 
cil and the Representatives in General Court Assembled. 
October 17. 1711. 

The Humble Representation and Addresse of the Select Men of the Town 
of Boston. 

May it please your Excellency 
and Honours 

Amidst the Awfull Desolation & Consumption of Many Dwellings & much 
of the Substance of this Town by the fiery dispensation of Providence, It is 



13i 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATIOX. 



a particular humbling and Afflictive Article That the House for Publick Meet- 
ings on Civic Occasions for the Province, County & Town, viz' for the Meetinu- 
of tlie General Assembly, the Holding of Councils, & Courts of Justice, & 
Town Meetings, is new lying Was^te in its Ashes. 

We account it our Duty to lay the Consideration thereof before your Ex- 
cellency & this Hono'i'e Assembly and humbly pray your Advice & Direction 
for the Kestoring & Rebuilding of the House for those rublick Uses & about 
tlie i>Iace where to set the same 

That what is most Honorable for the Government may be done therein. 

And Crane leaue to Subscribe 
Your Excellcy & Honours 
(Jbedient humble Servants 
p Order and in the Name of the s'' Select Men 

Joseph Prout Town Clerk 

In the House of Representatives October 22. 1711. Read & 

Ordered that Samuel .\ppleton Josiah Cliapin Jn" Clarke James Warren 

Esqrs, Major Thomas Eiteli Capt Simon Davis & Capt. Samuel Pliipps he a 

Committee to Joine with such as tlie Honoble Board shall appoint to CVmsider 

of this -iddresse & Report their opinion of wliat is proper to be done therein. 

Sent up for Concurrence. 

Joiix Hl'Kkill, Speaker. 

Die prcd : In Council 

Itead and concurred. And Elisha Hutchinson Samuel Sewall Natlil 
Payne & Thomas Noyes Esqrs Named of the Committee for the affair afores'', 
Elisha Hutchinson Esqr to Appoint time & place 

IsA.ic Addington Secretary. 

The Above Committee ,\dvise that there be a House built in or Near the 
place where the Old Town House Stood for the Uses mentioned in the Memo- 
rial as convenient as may be without incommoding the Street The breadth 
not to Exccede thirl}/ six fed the length So as to be Convenient for the ends 
Mentioned in the Addresse Thai a Committee be Appointed by this Court to 
Take Care for the Ixiildinij as speedily Sf prudently as may lie The Charge 
thereof to be borne the one Iwlf by the Province, the other half by tlie Town 
of Boston & County of Suffolk in equal proportion.' 

By Order of Major part of the Committee 

Elisha Hutchinson. 



Nov'' 0"' 1711. In Council Read & sent down 
In the House of Representatives Nov O"". 1711. 
Read & Accepted with the Amendments. 



John Blurill Speaker. 



Novembe'' 10. 1711. In Council Read and Concurred 

And that Elisha Hutchinson and Penn Townsend Esq" with such as shall 
be Named by the Representatives be a committee for the affaair. The Com- 
mittee to Advise with his E-xc^y & such skillfull Gentlemen they may think 
fitte to be consulted with about the Model of the House 

Sent down for Concurrence Isaac Aldington Secretary. 



' A copy of this report pre.scrvud by the M.i(ifi;ichuRett8 Historical Society, is printed in tiie 
City volume on tlie Dedication of the prcj^eiit City Hall in \$.<ob. There is on it this memoran- 
diiui ; '* Note, That the House is for I'ublirk .Meeting's on Oivil Occasions : for the Province, 
County and Town, viz, for the Meeting of tlie Oeneral Aasenibly, the Holding of Councils 
and Courts of Justice, and Town lueetinir. 



APPENDIX B. 135 



In tlie House of Representatives 

Novemb' 10. 1711. Read & Concurred And Addin^ton Davenport Sam" 
Tlia.xter Esqr" & Capt. Phipps be Named for the otfiee with libertie to tlie 
Town of Bo.ston to joine Two Persons More 

John Buurill Speaker 
Agreed to & Consented to by Jos: Dudley 
General Courts order for 
Rebuilding the Town House 
in Boston Novem' 1711 
Massachusetts .\rchives. Bouli 1113. pp. 018 019. 

In the House of Representatives 
Nov' 'J'l' 1711. 

Resolved That the Sum of fforty Pounds, be Allowed, out of the publick 
Treasury to M' Benj": Jolins. for tlie use tliis Court makes of liis House, in a 
year, lieginning the 17"': Oeto' last (if tliey imjirove it so long) Fifteen 
Pounds thereof to be now drawn out of the Treasury, the Remainder as this 
Court shall order. 

Sent up for Concurrence. John Burrill Speaker 



Nov' 10"' 1711. 



In Council 

Read and concurred 

Is'*: Addington Sectr'y. 



Book 48 p. 426 

Court Records, p. 244. Passed in House of Representatives, read and con- 
curred. 
Nov. 7 1712. 

Ordered that it be an Instruction to the Committee appointed to build the 
Province & Court House tliat they fit the East Chamber for the Use of His 
Excellency the Governor & the Hon''''' the Council, the Middle Chamber for 
the House, the West Chamber for the Sup' & Inf' Courts. 

Ordered that there l)e liut two offices below stairs in the Province & Court 
House now Building in Boston one for tlie Secretary the other for the Regis- 
ter of Deeds in the County of Suffolk, consented to J. Dudley. 
In the House of Representatives. 

March 21 : 1711. 
Ordered That It be an Instruction to the Committee appointed to Build the 
Court House or Exchange in Boston, That It be not more than (Jno Hundred 
& twelve, nor lesse than One Hundred & ten ffeet in length. 

Sent up for Concurrence. JoH>f Burrill Speaker 

In Council. 
March 21. 1711. p. 42.5. 

Read and Concurr'd 

Is-* Addington Secry 

At a Council lield at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Saturday the 23'' 
of August 1712. 

The Committee for overseeing the liuilding of the Court & Town House in 
Boston moving for a further supply of money 

Advised & consented That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to 
advance & pay to M' Williiim Payne of the said Committee and deputed their 
treasurer the further sum of Five hundred pounds over and above the Five 
hundred ]Kmnds already drawn for at twice to be imployed for and abi>ut the 
said Building he to bo accomptable for the disposal of it accordingly. 

Council Records, 1708 to 1712, page 598. 



136 OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 



At a Cotiiipil held at the CduiicU Cliamber in Boston upon Friday the 1j"> 
February 1711. 

Tlie Committee for the rebuilding of the Town & Court House in Boston 
now in liand with, proposing to liave two Imndred pounds advanced towards 
tlie s'' Building to be put into the hands of M' "William Payne by them 
deputed a Treasurer for paying of the workmen &c. 

Pursuant to the (irant of the General Assembly, Advised & consented 
Thiit a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to advance and pay the sum of 
Two liundred jiounds to the said M"" Payne for the use aforesaid upon Ac- 
compt accordingly. Council Records, page 522. 

At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Mondav, the 
18"' of February 1711. 

An accompt of Disbursements by the Select men of Boston in repairs of 
the late Town House from Septcmb"' o"" 170'J to the time of its desolation, 
amounting to Eleven pounds two shillings & one penny presented and 

Pursuant to the Act of tiie General Assembly, 

Advised & considered That a Warrant be made out thereupon to the 
Treasurer to jiay Five pounds eleven shillings & one penny, 4 being one half 
of the afores'' Disburse to the Town Treasurer of Boston. 

At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Monday the 
29* of December 1712. 

Present His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq"" Gov 

Elislia Hutchinson W" Hutchinson Andrew Belcher Peter Sergeant Esq" 
Penn Townsend Esq" Edw' Bromfield Esq™ Isaac Addington Esq'. 

The Committee tor overseeing the buililing of the Court & Town House in 
Boston moveing for a further supply of money for that occasion 

Pursuant to the Grant of the General Assembly. 

Advised & consented That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to ad- 
vance the fnrtlier sum of Five hundred pounds (over & above One thousand 
]iounds already issued by several Draughts) to M' William Payne of tlic 
said Committee & <lcjuited tlieir Treasurer to be employed for anil upon tiie 
said Building, He to be accomptable for the disposal of it accordingly. 

Council Records, jiage 639. 

At .a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon ]\londay the G"' 
of Ajiril 17i:i. 

Pursuant to a Resolve jiass'd by the General Assembly at their Session in 
March last, that the Treasu'' be directed to supply the Treasurer of the Town 
of Boston witli the sum of Four hundreil & fifty pounds in the public bills of 
credit to be applyed towards the carrying on & finishing the Town House or 
edifice now in building in Boston, as part of the Town's proporticm of that 
charge, he taking good & sufficient security for the repaying of the s<' sum 
into the Treasury again on or before the twentyeth day of J"ebruary next 

Advised & consented That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to ad- 
vance & stipply to M' .Toseph Front jn-esent Treasurer of the Town of Boston 
the aforesaid sum of Four hundred & fifty jiouuds in Bills of piiblick credit 
for the use aforesaiil taking good & sufficient security for the re])ayment of 
the same again accordingly. Council Records, 1712 to 1718, page 21. 

At a Council lield at the Council (,'hamber in Boston upon Wednesday 
April 29'" 171:!. 

Present His Excellency .Toseph Dudley Esq'. Governour &s. 

I'ursuant to the vote of the General Assembly at their Session in October 
1711 for the raising of a new edifice within the town of Boston in or near the 
])I;H'e where tlie Town House stoixl before the desolation thereof by fire for 
Puhlick Meetings on civil occasions for the use of the Province County & 
Town the charge thereof to be borne the one half by the Province the other 
half by the Town of Boston & county of Suffolk in equal proportion. 



APPENDIX B. 137 



Advised & consented that a Warrant be made to tlie Treasurer to advance 
vt pay M'' William Payne of the Committee for oversccintr the Building of 
the s ' House & deputed to their Treasurer tlie further sum of Five Ininilred 
pounds over & above what has been already advanced to him towards that 
work, he to be accoraptablo for the disposal of it accordingly. 

Council Records, ITlli to 1718, p. 33. 

At a Council held at the Council Ch.ambor in Boston upon Wednesday, the 
22<lof July 1713. 

M' William Payne of the Committee for overseeing the building of the 
Court & Town House in Boston & deputed their Treasurer moving for a further 
supply of money towards defreying thj ch.argo thereof 

jVdvised & consented That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer to ad- 
vance & pay to the s'' William Payne of the Committee & Treasurer as aforesaid 
the further sum of Five hundred pounds for that service to be employed on 
& about the Building he to be accomptable for the disposal of it accordingly. 

Ibid., page G8. 

August 27, 1713. Accompt presented by M'" W" Payne of expenses in the 
Council cliamber, where his Excel^y was attended by the Council officers 
civil & military and other Gent and on the Regiment under their arms attend- 
ing his Excellency on the 24"' of August currant at the Publication of the 
Peace between Her Majesty & the French King amounting to Fourteen 
pounds & eight shilling. 

Advised & consented to pay the above sum. Iliid., p. 8G. 

March 10, 1713. 

Council Advised & consented to pay Mr. William Payne of the Committee 
for overseeing the Building of the Town House in Boston the sum of seventy 
one i)Ounds nine shillings and five iience being the balance remaining due 
from the Province to their part of the cliarge for building s'' house according 
to tlie Report of tlie Committee for auditing the Accompts thereof accepted 
by the General Assembly. 

Ibid., i)age IGO. 

Town Records. Nov IC, 1711. Vol. 2., p. 333. 

Voted. A Concurrence with the proposalls m.ade by the Gen" Assembly 
At^ building a House in or neer the place where the Old Town House stood, 
for tlie uses therein Mentioned, with an addition of these words [and all other 
Town affaires] as part of the uses thereof. 

Voted. That Thomas Brattle Escff and m' William Payn be the persons 
nominated & Chosen by tliis Town to joyn w"' the committee Raised by the 
Gen" Court to maiiage that affair. 

Selectmen's minutes. Anno 1711: Decemb'' 10"> p. 2,'j. 

Voted. That Thomas Bratle Esq"-, mf Josiah Tay, m"' Eliz" Macc.arty & 
m" Eliz" Powning shall be taken into Consideration in order to Satisfaction 
for their Houses w"=^ were Blown up in order to Stop the progress of the fire 
w'^'' hapened in this Town y'^' 2' of Octob' Last. 

!>. 2Ci. Also James Meers, M.artha Gwin, Sarah Dynly & Rich<i Proctor, 
for their Houses being blown up. 
Thorn^ Brattle Esq. allowed Thirty Pounds. 
Isaiali Tay Thirty-five Pounds 

Eliz' Maccarty Sixty " 

EUz' Powning Thirty five " 

James Meers Twenty five " 

Martlia Gwin Twenty five " 

Sarali Dinely Ten " 

Richard Proctor Ten " 



i;3i3 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICxVTION. 



{From the original, in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical 

Society. ) 

"RELATING TO Y^ TOWN HOUSE KENTS. READ MARCH 

10™ 1711-12." 

"Whereas the Rents reserved to the Town of Boston for several spare 
Rooms in, under, and Acljoyning to the late Town House beside all rooms 
made use of tliere for Piibliok Oceasions, did according to tlie Rates they 
were left, or miglit have been Lett at amount to Eighty pounds V' annum. 

And the Great and Gen" Court of Assembly of tliis Province haveing lately 
liirected, That tlicre be a House built in or neer the place where theOld 
Town House stood, for Publick meetings on Civill Occasions, For Province 
County and Town, Viz'. For the Meeting of tlie Gen" Assembly, The liolding 
of Councills and Conrts of Justice and Town Meetings, the Charge thereof 
to be born the One halfe by the Province, the (_)tlier halfe by tlie Town of 
Boston and County of Suffolk in Equall pro])ortion, unto which proposal the 
Inhabitants of Boston have Voted their Concurrance. 

And since there is j)rospeet of as great if not greater improvem's and advan- 
tage bj' such spare room in the s'' new building now to be Erected, it may 
not be unseasonable for the Inhabitants of this Town now to make Sutable 
provision to secure that priviledge and benefitt to them selves and their suc- 
cessors. 

And altho other Arguments might be of weight for their being so benefitted, 
Yet rather then forego and lose the same. May it not be adviseahle for them 
to agree upon bearing some Additional Charge in y'' s'J building as an Eipiiva- 
lent, That so they may be thereby Effectually Intitulled to tlie benefit and 
improvement of all such rooms and spaices in under and adjoyning to the 
s'' New building whieli shall be conveniently capable of being inclosed and 
Improved for distinct uses, and otherwise not needfnll to be made use of for 
those afore mentioned intentions proposed by the Gen" Court, and tliercby to 
Lessen tlie Charge of tlie Province, Town ami County in their resjiective 
proportions as aforesaid. The which additionall charge, togetlier witli tlie 
Charge of Ineloseiiig ami fitting of shojii)S &c. there, may (ifthe town sees 
meet) to very good advantage to be defrayd out of that their money W^'' is the 
Effects of Lands sold and in Equity ought to be so layd out as to raise and 
jjerpetuate an income to the Town. 

And in ease sutable Appli<'ation be made to the Gen" Court on the behalfe 
of this Town relating to the premisies, under the consideration of their Ex- 
cessive growing Charge and Expences, & their so great a loss by the Late Fire 
& that tlie Late Town-House w'^'' was built at the C. large of y Inhabitants of 
this Town was for neer fifty years past made use of for all Publick Occasions 
w"'out any other Charge to the Public then that for some of the Later years 
they have born part of y" Charge of y"^ Repaires. 

And that the Town of Boston being the true and proper Owners of all that 
Land on w*'" the said New buildiug is now to be erected. It is presumed tluit 
they will readily agree unto so just and reasonable a proposal. 

Proposed Bv .Toseph Prout Read at y-' beginiug of y Town meeting v ln'i' 
of March 1711-12. 



APPENDIX C. 139 



APPEJ^DIX C. 



PAPERS RELATING TO THE REBITILDING OF THE TOWN 
HOUSE IN 1747. 

In the House of Representatives Dec'' 9, 1747. 

( )rdcred that the Select Men of the Town of Boston be desired to take care 
of tlie Materials belonging to the late Court House which are preserved from 
the Flames. 

Sent up for concurrence 



In Council Dec' 0. 1747 Read & Concurr'd 
Consented to 



T. HuTCHiN-soN Spkr. 



J. WiLLAKD Secy 



W. Shirley 
Massachusetts Archives, Book 49. p. 204 

In the House of Representatives Dec. 9. 1747. 

The House taking into further consideration theawful Providence of God 
this Morning in the destruction of the Court House ami great part of the 
publick Records by Fire. 

Ordered that the'Speaker Col" Stoddard Col" Heath Col" Choate M' Frost 
Capt Partridge and Col° Otis witli such as the Hon'''*^ Board shall Joyn, he a 
Committee to Consider and Report what is necessary to be done by the Court 
at this Juncture. 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr 

In Council Dec 9. 1747. Read & Concurred, 
& .Tosiah Willnrd, Sam' Walley, John C'usliing, John Quincy, John Chandler 
& .\nd"' Oliver Esq" are joined in y= AfEair 

J. WiLLARi) Secy. 
Book 49. p. 205. 
Committee to provide boards for 
the Court House Walls 
Dec. 10 1747. 
Entered 
In the House of Representatives Dec^ 11, 1747. 

Ordered that M' Frost with such as the Hon''"'^ Board shall Joyne be directed 
to Contract for sixty thousand feet of Boards forty thousand of them Mer- 
chantable and twenty tliousand clear for the Service of the Province and 

Also three thousand feet of one Inch and half clear Stuff and three thousand 
feet of Stuff for Window Frames 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. HnTCHiNSON Spkr. 

In Council December 11"' 1747. Read and Concurr'd and John Hill Esq'' 
is Joyned in the Affair 

J. WiLLARD Secry 
Book 49. p. 206. Consented to W. Shirley. 



140 OLD STATE HUUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



In the House of Representatives Dee'' 11"' 1747 

Ordereil that the Select Men of Boston be desired and impowered to Secure 
the Walls of tlie late Court House t'roui the inconveniences of tlie Y\'eatlier by 
Causing tlie same to be covered with Boards in the best and cheapest manner 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. HuTcuixsos Spkr 

In Council Dec' 11 1747 Read and Concurr'd 

J. \ViLLAKi> Secrv. 

Book 49. p. "207. 
In the House of Representatives Marcli 3, 1747 

Ordered that Col" Hale Col" Otis M' Boardman M' Fore and M'' Hub- 
bard with such as the Hon''' Board shall appoiut be a Comuiittee to Consider 
and Report a proper place in the Town of IJoston for building a New Court 
House 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. HuTCHixsoN Spkr. 
In Council March 3, 1747. 

lieail & Concur'd And Jacob \yendell, Samuel Danforth, Sam' Watts, John 
Chandler, & Ezekiel Chever Esq", are joined in tlie -Affair 

.1. WiLLARi) Secrv 

Book 4y. p. .510 
In the House of Representatives 9 March 1747 

Voted that the late Court House in the Town of Boston be Repaired as soon 
as conveniently may be & that one half the Charge thereof be borne by the 
Province the other half by the County of Suffolk & the Town of Boston 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. HuTCHiN.soN Spkr. 
In Council, March 9, 1747; Read & Concur'd, 

J. WiLLARD Seery 
Consented to 

W. Shirley 

Book 49, p. 211 
In the House of Representatives Marcli 11, 1747. 

Whereas it has been determined by this Court that the late Court House 
should be repaired, ami that one half the Charge should be born by the Coun- 
ty of Suffolk and the Town of Boston, but the proportion between the Coun.y 
and Town is not settled by said vote. 

Resolved that one quarter part of the ('barge of repairing s'' House be born 
by the said County, and one quarter part by .said Town. Also voted that M'' 
Speaker AK Hubbard and M' Allen with such as the Hon''''- Board .shall Joyn 
be a Conim« to purchase and Procure proper Materials to Etfect the repair of 
said House agreeable to the vote of the 10"> Curr'. Also to Prepare a Plan of 
the Inside Work that the room may be so dispos'd as will be most beneticial 
to the Province County and Town. And that they Lay the same before this 
Court, witli an Estimate of the Charge at their next sitting 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. HuTcuiNsox Spkr. 

In Council; Mar. 10. 1747; Read & Concur'd & Jacob Wendell & Andrew 
Olliver Esq"*, .are .loined in the Affair 

.1. WiLLAUi> Seery. 
("'onsented to, 

W. SlItRLKY 

Book 49. 212, 213. 

The Committee appointed the 11 Ins' to procure Materials to eifect the Re- 
pairs of the Court House & to prepare a Plan & make an Estimate of the 
Charge, have divers times met & consulted Workmen thereupon : and beg 
leave to report 



APPENDIX C. 14:1 



Tliiit in obetlienoe to the order of the HonWo -General Court, they liave 
taken measures for procuring the Lumber needful for tliis purpose & liave 
actually agreed for a great part of it. 

The Committee herewith present a Plan of the inside Work, which they 
apprehend will be the most commodious & best answer the design of the 
Building; and upon the best information tliey can obtain they jmlge that the 
said Repairs will amount to Eighteen thousattd One liundred & four Pounds 
old ten' as by the Estimate lierewith, all wluch is luimbly submitted. 

Jacob Wendell by order 
March 31 : 1748 

In Council April 7. 1747. Road & sent down. 
In the House of Representatives 12"' April 1748 

Read and Ordered tliat the Committee be directed to Proceed & cause the 
Court House to be rebuilt agreeable to the Plan laid before the Court with 
this Report. 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr 
In Cotmcil April 13, 1748; Read & C'oncur'd 

.1. WiLL.\Ki> Seery. 
Consented to 

W. SniRLEV. 

T5ook 40. pp. L'14, 21.''). 

In the House of Representatives April 8. 1848 

Voted that the Treasurer 1)6 directed to Pay into the hands of the Com- 
mittee for purchasing Materials for building a Court Hotise tlie .Sum of One 
Inmdred pounds out of the .Vppropri;ition for payment of matters & things for 
which there is no Establishment. The said Comm™ to be accountable 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson, Spkr. 
In Council April 0"'. 1748. Read & Concur'd 

J. WiLLARU Secry. 
Consented to 

W Shikley. 

Book 49. p. 21G 

In the House of Representatives June 1.") 174S 

Voted that tlie Committee app"^"" to take care of the rebuilding tlie Court 
House be allowed to receive out of the publiolc Treasury tlie Sum of fifteen 
hundred pounds to Enable them to Proceed in that affair. The said Com- 
mittee to be accountable. 

Sent up for concurrence 

T Hutchinson Spkr 
In Council June 15 1748 Read and Concurred 

J. WiLLARi> Secry. 
Consented to 

W. Shirley. 

Book 49. p. 228. 

In the House of Representatives Nov 22, 1748. 

Ordered that the Sum of fifteen Hundred pounds be paid out of tlie Treasury 
into tlie hands of the Comm''^ app'"'' to take care of the repairs of the Town 
House &c. They to be accountable 

Sent up for concurrence 

T. Hutchinson Spkr. 
In Council Nov'. 22. 1748 Read & Concur'd 

J. Willakd Secry. 
Consented to 

W. Shirley-. 

Book 40. p. 238 



142 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

To The Hon''''" ■ Spencer Phips Esq' : Leiv' Gnvernour and Conimaniler in 
chcif in and over liis Majesty's Provinee of the Massaehusetts Bay in New Eng- 
land, To the Hon' his llajesty's Council, and to the Honb' the House of 
Keprcsentatives in General Court Assembled, 

'I'he I'etition of Abigail Halyburton of Boston Widow, humbly sheweth. 
That in the year 1747 wlien the Court House was consumed by Fire, his 
Majesty's Council took a Room in the House she liad hired of Madam Stod- 
dard, for which she did not intend to trouble 3'our Honour and this Hon'''° 
Court al)Out, but on her Settlini; her Accounts of Rent with said Mad'" Stod- 
dard lately she had obliged her to pay Thirty four Pounds old Tenor for tlie 
Rent of that House, when she had no other Improvement for it tlian for his 
Majesty's Council to sit in as aforesaid, your Jlemorialist begs leave further to 
represent, tluxt at the same Time at t^il" Pollard's request she was at about 
Eight Pounds old Tenor costs for Forms for the Council Use, and she has 
had no Allowance for either Forms, or Rents therefore she prays your Honours 
to take the Premises into consideration & make her such Allowance as you in 
your great AVisdom shall think proper and as in Duty bound shall ever 
pray 

Abigaill Hallyburton 

Book 4U. p. 2G2. 

In the House of Representatives Jan>' 10 171!) 

Read and Ordered that the Prayer of the Pet'"' be so far granted as that tlie 
Pef be allowed out of the ]iul>lick Treasury the Sum of three pounds in full' 
for the Use of h"r House which was improved in the Service of the Province 
when the late Court House was Consumed by fire. 

Sent up for concurrence 

J. DwiGiiT Spkr. 

In Council ,Tan. 10. 1749 Read and Concur'd 

J. Wii.LAKD Seery 
Consented to 

S. Piiirs. 

p. 2G3. 
In the House of Representatives. Jan>'. 2(5 1749 

Ordered that the Treasurer be directed to deliver the Committee appointed 
to take care of the repairs [ofj the Townhouse &c the Sum of One thousand 
pounds Lawful Money to be by them paid to the workmen &c Who have jjcr- 
form'd that Service 

The said Comm™ to be accountable for their doings to this Court. 
Sent up for concurrence 

Tho' Hubbaru Spkrjjro Tempore 



In Council .Tan. 2G, 1749 ; Read & Concur'd 
Consented to 



J. WiLt.AKD Secry. 

S. Phips 
Book 49, p. 2C4. 



In the House of Representatives March .SI 1750 

Ordered that the Committee appointed to take care of the Repairs of the 
Court House be directed to lav their Accounts upon the Table as soon as mav 
be 

Sent up for concurrence 

Tuo"* HtiBnAuo. Spkr j;ro Tenipas. 

In Council March 31 1750 

Read and Concurred Sami, Hoi. brook Dep'^ Secry 

Consented to 

S. Phips. p. 266. 

1 Ah it took about ^-lev^-u pounda old tcuur to m;ike one pound sterling, the Council probably 
paid in full. — W. II. W. 



APPENDIX C. 143 



In the House of Representatives April 19, 1750 

Ordered that the Sum of Sixty Six pounds tliirteen shillings and four pence 
he allowed & p'' out of the publiclv Treasury to the Committee for repairing 
tile Town House &c in consideration of their time & trouble in taking care of 
said Repairs &c. to be equally jiroportiond among them. 
Sent up for coneurrenee 

T IIunnARD Spkr^ro Tempore 
In Council April I'J. 1750 Head &, Concur'd 

Saml Holbkook Dy Secry 
Consented to 

S. Pnips 
Book 40. p. 277. 

At a Great & General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay in New England, began & held at Boston upon Wednesday 
thirtieth day of May 17">0, being called by his Majesty's "Writts. 

Eriilay Octo'. 5. i7.50 

In the House of Kepres''"'. Whereas the Charge of building the Town 
House in Boston was by the General Court ordered to be paid, one half by 
the Province, one quarter part thereof by the Town of Boston & the other 
quarter part thereof by the County of Suffolk, & it has been resolved by the 
General Court that the said Town & County sliall pay the same proportion in 
the late Repairs thereof, the wliole Charge of whicli Rejiairs amounts to 
thirty seven hundred & five pound eleven shillings & four pence Lawful 
money ; 

Wherefore Ordered that the Town of Boston aforesaid pay into the 
Province Treasury Nine hundred twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten 
pence, being one quarter part of the Charge of said Repairs ; And the 
Province Treasurer is hereby ordered & directed to proportion the Sum of 
Nine hundred & twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten pence, to and among 
the Towns in the County of SuS'olk, according to the Proportion which eacli 
Town in said County bore, one to the other, in the last Province Tax; And 
the Treasurer is furtber Ordered to give out his Warrants to the Assessors of 
the Town of Boston for the year 1750 requiring them to Assess the Sum of 
Nine hundred twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten pence on the Polls & 
Estates in the said Town of Boston, according to the Direction of the last 
Province Tax Act, & also to give out his Warrants to the Assessors of the 
several Towns in said County of Suffolk, requiring them to assess on Polls & 
Estates in their respective Towns their proportionable Parts of the said sum 
of Nine liundred & twenty six pounds seven shillings & ten ])ence by the 
same Rule aforesaid : And the saiil Treasurer & the Assessors aforesaid, and the 
Collectors and Constables to whom the Assessment for the Tax aforesaid 
shall be committed, be &. hereby are fully impowered & directed to act in their 
respective offices tor the enforcing the Payment of said sums into the Province 
Treasury on or before the last day of Marcli next, in all respects, as by the 
Law of this province, said Officers are impowered to do for the enforcing the 
Payments of Province Taxes. 

In Council ; Read & Non Concur'd ' 

A true Copy as of Record 

Attesf Saml Holbrook D Secry. 
Book 49. p. 208. 

Dec. 9. 1747. In the House of Representatives, 

t)rdered that M' Frost, Cap'. Partridge & Col". Otis with such as the 
Hon*"''. Board shall appoint be a Committee to inquire after & secure any 
Books Records & P.apers that may have been preserved from the Flames, 
which consinned the Court House this morning. 

In Council Read & Concur'd ; and Josiah Willard. Samviel Welles & Andrew 
Oliver Esq" are joined in the Affair. Court Records p. 273, 274. 



344 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATIOX. 



In the House of Kcprcsentatives. Orilered that the Select men of Boston 
he desired & imiiowered to seeiire the Walls of the late Court House from 
the Inconveniences of the Weather by causins; thi'ni to he covered witli 
Boards in tlie best & cheapest manner. In Council, Kead & Concur'd. Con- 
sented to by the Governour. 

p: 278 

March 2, 1747. [i.e., 1747-4,s.] 

His E.\eellency sent the following Message to the House hy the Secretary, 
viz' 

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives 

At the beginning of this Session I recommended to }'ou the m.aking Provi- 
sion for a Court House, I was in hopes th.' Inconvenience yoa suffer in your 
liresent Situation would have promjited you to have given Disjiatch to tliis 
Affair, but perceiving it is still (lelayed, I must desire you to resume tlie Con- 
sideratinn, lest tlie General Court sliou'd be put to the same Difficulties an- 
other Winter. 

p. 30.i. 

April 13, 174S. Jacob Wendell Esq', from tlie Committee appointed to 
take Care of the rebuilding of the Court House gave in the following Report, 
viz'. 

Tlie Committee appointed the 10"' of March last to procure Materials to 
effect the Repairs of the Court House, & to prepare a Plan, & make an Estimate 
of file Cluirge have divers times met & consulted Work men there upon &ljeg 
Leave to Report. ^That in Obedience to the Order of tlie Hon''!''. General 
Court they have taken Measures for procuring the Luralier needful for this 
Purpose, & have actually agreed for a great part of it. 

Tlie Committee herewith j>resent a Plan of the Inside Work whicii they 
a])prehend will be the most commodious, & best answer the Design of tlie 
Building; And upon the best Information they can obtain they Judge that 
the saiil Kcfiairs will .■Vinount to Eigliteen thousand, one hundred & four 
Pounds old Tenor, as bv the Estimate herewith. 

Marcli 31, 174S 

All which is respectfully submitted 

J.vcoB Wendell 

p'' order 

In the House of Representatives. Re.ad & Ordereil that the Committee be 
directed to jirctceed, ,.t cause the Court House to be rebuilt, agreeable to the 
Plan laid before the Court witli tliis Report. 
In Council ; Read & Concur'd 

Consented to by the Governo^ 

Court Records, p. 330. 

April 23 1748. In the House of Represent.atives. 

Voted tliat the Treasurer be directed to pay into the hands of the Com- 
mittee for rebuilding the late Court House, flie Sum of Five Hundred Pounds, 
such sum to be taken of tlie Appropriation wliere tliere is no Establisliment ; 
The said Conim'"^^. to be Accomptalile. 

In Council; Read & Concur'd. Consented to by the Governoi;r. 

p. 345 

April 20, 1749. In the House of Representatives. Ordered that the Sum 
of Twelve Hundred & fifty Pounds l>e paid out of the Publick Treasury to 
tlie Committee aii]iointed to effect the Repairs of tlie Court House in Boston, 
the said Committee to be accountable. 
In Council ; Read & Concur'd 

Consented to by the Governour 

p. 477. 



APPENDIX T>. 145 



April 25, 1751. In the House of Iteprescntativcs : 

Whereas the Charge of buihling the Town House in Boston was by the 
General Court ordered to be paid one lialf by the Province, one Quarter part 
tliereof by tlie Town of Boston, and tlie other Quarter part thereof by the 
County of Suffolk, And it has been Resolved by the General Court that the 
said Town & County shall pay the same Proportion in the late Repairs thereof: 
'I'lie whole Cliarge of which Repairs amounts to thirty seven hundred five 
Pounds eleven shillings & four pence Lawfull Money: Wlierefore 

Ordered that tlie Town of Boston aforesaid pay into tlie Province Treas- 
ury nine hundred twenty six Pounds seven shillings & ten pence beeing 
One Qu;vrter part of the Charge of Said Repairs, And tliat the County of 
Suffolk pay into the Province Treasury Nine hundred Twenty six Pounds 
seven sliiUings &tenpence being also one Quarter part of tlie Charge of said 
Repairs, and tbe Province Treasurer is hereby Ordered & directed to propor- 
tion the Sum of Nine hundred twenty six Pounds seven shillings & ten pence 
to & among the Towns in the County of Suffolk, according to the Proportion, 
which each Town in said County bears one to another in the present valuation. 

And the Treasurer is further ordered to give his Warrants to the Assessors 
of the Town of Boston, for the year 1750, requiring them to assess the Sum 
of Nine hundred twenty six Pounds eleven sliillings & Ten pence on the Polls 
& Estates in the said Town of Boston, according to the Direction in the present 
Valuation, and also to give out his Warrants to the Assessors of the several 
Towns in said County of Suffolk, requiring tliem to assess on Polls & Estates 
in tbeir respective Towns tlieir proportionable part of s"! Sum of Nine hun- 
dred twenty six Pounds seven shillings & ten pence by the same Rule afore- 
said. And the said Treasurer & the assessors aforesaid & the Collectors & 
Constables, to whom the .Assessment for the Tax aforesaid shall be committed 
be & hereby are fully irapowered& directed to act in their respective Offices, 
for the Enforcing the Payment of said Sums into the Province Treasury on or 
before the last day of March next in all Respects as by the Law of this 
Province s.aid Officers are impowered to do for enforcing the Payment of 
Province Taxes. 

In Council Read & Concur'd Consented to by the Lieu' Govern'. 

page 337. 



APPENDIX D. 



THE LION AND THE UNICORN. 
(See ante, p. 65.) 

Ill delivering this address, reference was made to the Lion and 
Unicorn, which adorned the eastern front of the building, as 
" Royal Arras," and the words were retained, though not techni- 
cally correct. Correctly speaking, there are no arms shown on the 
building ; the two wooden figures being only the supporters of a 
shield whose outline only is indicated. The first question to con- 



14G 



OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATIOX. 



sider in deoidiiig what this shield would naturally be, is, '• Does 
the use of the Lion and Uuiconi, as supporters, uecessarilv impl}' 
the presence of the arms of Great Britain, or of the ruling faui- 
ilv?" The answer must be in the negative. For example, good 
authorities state that the Dukes of Northumberland long used 
these supporters. The fact rhorc to the point is, that they were 
often used in connection with the arms of various colonies In 
September, 1G8G, King James II. granted to the New England 
Colonies, then governed by Andros, a great seal, both sides of 
which are shown in the annexed engravings. 




In the following year King .Tames granted a seal to New York, 
one side bearing the Royal Arms, with the Oarter Crown Sui)port- 
ers and Motto, with thi' inscription, " Sigilhnn I'rovincia' Nostraj 
Novi Eboraci, etc., in .\inerica." (Historical IMag., April, l.S(i2.) 
It is believed that similar grants were made to other colonics, es- 
pecially to New Hampshire. 

Under the Second Charter of Massachusetts a change was neces- 
sary, as that provided for a ■• publi(pie st-al to !>e ainiointed liy tlie 



APPENDIX 1). 



147 



Crown." The following engravings show the two difFerent fonus 
whieli this seal assumed from A.D. 1002 to the Revolution : — 








It has not seemed worth while to push tiiis inquiry as to the 
exact dates of the first and last use of each form ; but j\Ir. Thomas 
C. Amorj', in a careful essaj- printed in the Proceedings of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society for December, 18G7, thinks that 
the second form came into use about September, 1728, when the 
Supplemental Charter of George I. came into effect. At the ac- 
cession of George III. the seal was changed in respect to his 
name, but not otherwise. Of course this seal ceased to be used 
at the Revolution. 

It will be seen, however, that for some fifty years the seal of 
Massachusetts was a shield of the Royal Arms, with tlie Lion and 
Unicorn for sui)porters, and an inscription denoting that they 
were used for and iu behalf of the. Province. In the interesting 
painter's bill, printed {ants, p. 64), It appears that within the 
building were carved representations of the Colony Arms as dis- 
tinct from tiie King's Arms. Although no specimen is now known 
of tliese Colony Arms, it cannot be douljted that they were the 
same as those on the Great Seal. 



148 OLD fjTATK llOUSK KE-BEDICATION. 

It is, therefore, at least as prtibalilc that these supporters would 
iiiiplj' the Province coat-of-arms, as the Roj'al Arms. But in 
reality there was no distiuetion between them, and it would seem 
to be an unnecessary strett-h of fancy to insist upon seeing in 
these inoffensive wooden images a reminder of British rule, rather 
than of the glorious Provincial Government, that precursor and 
creator of our later free State. 

So long as the emblems have at le.ast an equal claim to be 
viewed as Provincial insignia, and especially as it would be impos- 
sible to use any other heraldic ornaments to denote that period, 
there seem to be sound grounds for us to retain these figures. 

As to their removal by our forefathers, it is necessarj' to say 
only that, at that date, such au act had a meaning. It was the 
visible token of the revolt against royalty, and was, therefore, 
right and proper. But now that republicanism is established, and 
the continuance of royalt}' even in Europe is so problematical, no 
one can fear the result of showing to the world this evidence of 
our former condition. The lo^'alty of our people to their chosen 
form of government does not depend upon any falsillcation of 
history. The Lion and the Unicorn were the property of our an- 
cestors in this country, and we have the right to use them in any 
place where their presence is instructive. 

The date of the removal of these figures has not been definitely 
ascertained. The note on p. 93 makes it probable that they did 
not remain later than July IS, 177G ; but, as the American troops 
occupied the town four months earlier, the change maj' have taken 
place before this. The destruction of roj'alist emblems was not 
so extensive as the newspaper asserts, since the King's Arms were 
removed from the Council Chamber by loj'alists, and sent to 
St. John, N.B., where they now decorate a church; and the 
similar carving from the I'rovinee House is now in the possession 
of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and is, temporarily, 
placed on exhibition in the Old State House. 



APPENDIX E. 149 



APPENDIX E. 



FANEUIL HALL. 

As Faneuil Hall has been so intimately counected with the his- 
tory of Boston, it seems proper to insert a short account of the 
building, and especially to point out the changes which it has ex- 
perienced, as the comparison with the Old State House, on the 
point of genuineness, will not I>e to the discredit of the latter. 

As is well-known, Peter Faneuil, in 1740, offered to build and 
present to the town a market-house. On July 17th, at a town 
meeting, a vote of thanks for the offer was unanimously passed, 
but the acceptance was carried only b}' a majority of seven votes 
in a total of 727, so wedded were our ancestors to their old ways 
of marketing. 

Sept. 10, 1742, Mr. >Samuel Ruggles, who was employed in 
building the market-house, delivered over the key to the select- 
men, and on the 13th a town meeting was held. On motion of 
John Jeffries, Esq., the following vote was passed: — 

" AVhereas, information was given to this town at their meeting 
in July, 1740, that Peter Faneuil, Esq., had been generously' 
pleased to offer at his own proper cost and charge, to erect and 
build a uoljle and complete structure or edifice, to be improved for 
a market, for tlie sole use, benefit and advantage of the Town, 
provided the town of Boston would pass a vote for that purpose, 
and lay the same luuler such regulations as shall be thought nec- 
essary, and constantly support it for the said use. 

" And, whereas, at the said meeting it was determined to accept 
of the offer or proposal aforesaid ; and also voted that the select- 
men should be desired to wait upon Peter Faneuil, Esci-, and to 



150 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

present the thanks of the Town to him, and also to acquaint him 
that the town have b}- their vote come to a resohition to accept 
of his generons offer of erecting a marlict-honse on Dock square, 
according to liis proposal. 

" And, whereas, Peter Fancuil, Esq., has in pursuance thereof, at 
a very great expense, erected a noble structure far exceeding his 
first proposal, inasmuch as it contains not only a large and suffi- 
cient accommodation for a ^Market place, but lia.s also superadded 
a spacious and most l)cautiful Town Hall over it. .niid several other 
convenient rooms whieli maj' prove verv beneficial to the town for 
offices, or othei'wise ; and the said building being now nuished, 
has delivered possession thereof to the Selectmen, for the use of 
the town. It is, therefore, 

" Vol('d.,ihat the town do with the utmost gratitude, receive and 
accept this most generous and noble benefaction, for the uses and 
intentions tliej- are designed for ; and do appoint the Hon. Thomas 
Gushing, Esq., the Moderator of this meeting, the Hon. Adam 
"Winthrop, Edward Hutchinson, Ezekiel Lewis, Samuel Waldo, 
Thomas Hutchinson, Esquires; the Selectmen and Representatives 
of the town of Boston, with the Hon. Jacob Wendell, James 
Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, Capt. Nathaniel Cunningham, Peter 
Chardon, and Charles Apthorp, Esquires, to wait on Peter Fan- 
euil, Esq.. in the name of the Town, to render him their most 
hearty thanks for so bountiful a gift ; with their prayers that 
this and other expressions of his bounty and charity maj' be 
abundantly recompensed with the divine blessing." 

" It was then voted unanimously that, in testimony of the Town's 
gratitude to the said Peter Faneuil, Esq., and to perpetuate his 
menior}', the Hall over the market place be named Faneuil Hall, 
to bo at all times hereafter called and known by that name. 

" As a further testimony of respect it was voted that >Ir. Fan- 
euil's picture be drawn at full length at the expense of the town, 
and iilaccd in the Hall, and the Selectmen were charued with the 



APPENDIX E. lol 

commission, which was aocordingl}' oxeciited. " (Snow's Hist, of 
Boston, p. 234.) March 14, 1744, tlie town voted to purchase the 
Faueuil arms, elegantly carved and gilt, l)y Moses Deslion, to be 
fixed in the Hall. 

On Tuesdaj', Januarj' 1.1, 17(U, during a spell of extremel}' 
cohl weather, a fire broke out in one of the shops opposite the 
north side of Fancuil llall, anil eonsmned the row of wooden 
buildings there. The fire " communicated itself to that stately 
edifice, Faneuil Hall Market, the whole of which was entirely con- 
sumed, except the brick walls, which are left standing." The 
"records and papers, with such other things as could be con- 
veniently removed, were mostly saved." The first meeting at 
Faneuil Hall after it was repaired was on March 14, 1703, 
when James Otis, Jr., delivered an address. Some slight alter- 
ations were made in some parts of the work, but the size of 
the building remained the same. (Snow's Hist., p. 247.) 

The two views liere given, one from the Massachusetts Maga- 
zine for March, 1789, and the other, from Snow's History in 1820, 
show the Kevolutionary building and the present one. The white 
lines in Snow's view indicate the proportion of old material in the 
existing Hall. In 1805 the enlargement was made douI)ling the 
width of the building and adiling a third story. The first Hall 
was calculated to hold one thousand persons, but, as we have 
noted before, whenever a large town meeting was held it adjourned 
to the Old South Church for additional room. 



152 OLD STATE HOUSE HE-DEDICATION. 



APPEXDIX F. 



THE COURT HOUSE, OR OLD CITY HALL. 

But little has been printed in regard to the building on School 
street occupied a.s the First City Hall from 1822 to 1830, and. 
again from 1840 to 1862. The handsome volume, descriptive of 
our new City Hall, printed in 1866, begins its record oul3- with the 
measures which, in 1838, led to the second occupancv of the old 
building upon the removal, in 1840, from the Old State House. 
In fact, on p. 44 of that document, it is said that Faneuil Hall 
was the first City Hall, and was so used from 1822 to 1830. This 
is clearl3' incorrect, as the following statements will show ; for we 
must regard that building as the Citj- Hall, in which the Mayor 
and Alderman and the Common Council held their meetings, 
and where the greater part of the departments had their offices. 

The earliest view of this Court House is sound in the " Polyan- 
thos" for September, 1813, which is here copied. 

In Snow's History of Boston, printed in 1826, he describes the 
stone Court House, in Court square, as built in 1810. •' The 
lower story of the centre is improved by the Registrar of Deeds 
and Clerk of the C. C. P. ; the second story by the County 
Courts ; and the upper by the Common Council of the city. The 
INIayor and Aldermen's room is in the upper story of the western 
wing ; under that are the offices of the Auditor and City Mar- 
shal ; and on the lower floor the Probate Office. In the eastern 
wing are the offices of the clerk of the S. J. Court-rooms, for 
the judges, and for the juries, and one occupied bj' tlie Law 
Library." 



APPENDIX F. 153 

lu Boweu's Picture of Boston, printed in 1829, is a description 
of the offices. "Tlie Maj'or aud Aldermen's room is a plain but 
convenient apartment in the third stor^- of the west wing of the 
Stone Court House, Court .Square in School street. A railing 
runs across the middle, dividing it into two divisions, the south, 
side being for the accommodation of visitors, who are provided 
with settees ; the north side has an elevated floor, which is car- 
peted. The chairs and tables are so arranged as to make half a 
circle, the Mayor's chair in the centre and raised above the others." 
" The Common Council hold their sessions in the same building 
with the Board of Aldermen. The Council room is in the third 
story, in the centre of the building. The President's seat is 
elevated at one side of the room, and the seats of the members 
are ver3' convoniiMitly arranged, having a gi'adual ascent from 
front to rear." 

The City Clerk's office was in the Aldermen's room ; the Clerk 
of the Common Council had an office in the brick building oppo- 
site the south-west door of the Court House ; the Assessors were 
at Faneuil Hall, the Treasurer in the room at the westerly end of 
the Old State House ; the Auditor at tiie west end of the Court 
House ; the City Marshall, the Health Commissioners, and the 
Superintendent of Burying Grounds, were in the west end of the 
Court House, north side. All these were so located liy an ordi- 
nance dated Dee. 20, 1824. 

Mayor Quincy, in his inaugural address, in January, 1827, 
dwelt upon the importance of bringing all these departments of 
the City Government under one roof. His plan was to erect a 
building on the west end of Faneuil Hall, giving up the Council 
Chamber to the Court of Common Pleas, and building a new 
chamber in the .Stone Court House, for the United States Court. 
He also proposed to sell the laud in Court square formerly cov- 
ered b^- the Jail. 



154 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

As we know, this plan did not prove acceptable ; and, in 1H30, 
the city converted the Old State House into a Citj' Hall. 

As there have been so many changes in and about Court square, 
it is worth wliile to e.xplain them. Fi-om a verj' early date the 
Jail was placed in the centre of Court square. Pembertou, in 
1 794, writes : •' The new Stone Jail is a large, commodious building, 
aud stands on the ground where formerly was a wooden building 
calle^i the Debtor's Jail, a little back from Court (formerly Queen) 
street. The inside was set on fire by some prisoners confined in 
it, the 30th June, 1769. It has since been repaired, is three 
stories in height, and is divided into three parts with brick par- 
titions, cased with plank and iron. The upper story is appro- 
priated to debtors. The entrance to the Jail is by three strong 
doors in front. 

" The new Court House is built on the front of the said street, 
partly ou the ground where the old stone jail stood, which made 
an uncouth appearance and was taken down. It is a large, hand- 
some building of brick, three stories high, and has on the roof an 
octagon cupola. The lower floor is used partly for walking, and 
has on it the probate office and the office of the county registrar 
of deeds. In the second story, the floor of which is supported by 
pillars of the Tuscan order, are held the courts of law. In the 
second and third stories are convenient rooms for the grand aud 
petit jurors, and for offices." 

The annexed plans show the location of the building in 1800 
and 1814, and a view of the east end of this Court House is 
found in Salmon's picture, in 1829, from the top of Pemberton 
Hill. {See ante, p. 110.) 

Shaw, in 1817, repeats these descriptions substantially, adding 
that the building was of brick, that the cupola contained a bell, 
and that on the lower floor were the offices of the. U. S. District 
Marshal, Sherifl" of the County, Clerk of the Municipal Court, 



a 

c 





APPENDIX F. 155 

the Provident lustitutiou or Savings-Bauk, and several private 
offices. In the second story were held the Circuit and District 
Courts of the U. S., and there was the office of the Dis- 
trict Clerk. "This building, before the erection of the new 
Court House, was used by all the Courts of Law held in the 
County." 

He adds that the jail is 90 feet long and 23 feet broad, and is 
four stories high. 

The Old county Court House had then been given up to 
other uses, and the explanation is, that by Chap. 73 of Acts of 
1809 (dated March 1, 1810), the Justices of the Court of Com- 
mon Fleas for Suffolk were empowered to purchase any lands 
between Court street and School street, in Boston, for erecting a 
Court House for said county, and making proper avenues to and 
arouud tlie same, to sell or exchange any land there belonging to 
the county and to borrow money and build a Court House. 

Undoubtedly the work was promptly performed. Shaw thus 
describes it : " The New Court House is 140 feet long, consists of 
an octagon centre 55 feet wide, two stories, two wings of three 
stories, 2G by 40 feet, connected by the entrance and passages to 
the centre ; contains two court-rooms in the centre, one smaller la 
one wing, Probate Office, Register of Deeds, Clerks of Supreme 
and Common Pleas Court, rooms for Judges and Law Library, 
rooms for Grand and Petit Juries. The cost of this building was 
$98,817.16." 

Snow, in his admirable history of Boston, in 1824, gives the 
annexed view of the Stone Court House, which he tried to per- 
suade the public to call " Johnson Hall " He writes : "The lower 
story of the centre is improved by the Register of Deeds and 
Clerk of the C. C. P. ; the second story bj' the County Courts, and 
the upper by the Common Council of the city. The maj'or and 
aldermen's room is in the upper story of the west wing; under 



156 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 

that are the offices of the Auditoi- and City Marshal, and on the 
lower floor the Probate Office. In the eastern wing are the offices 
of the Clerk of the S. J. court rooms, for the judges and for the 
juries, and one occupied liy the Law Liljrary." 

As already noted, the Old State House was oceu|)ied as a City 
Ilall, September 17, 1830, and so remained for ten years. 

In 1839 the City Council appropriated S60,000 for the purchase, 
of land in Court square and on School street, and $500 as a 
premium for a plan for a new City Hall. City Doc. No. 9, of 
IS-tO, reports tliat they had plans from Asher Benjamin, Richard 
Bond, and G. J. F. Bryant, costing from $28,000 to 824,000, for 
alterations of the County Court House for this purpose ; one 
from Cornelius Coolidge for $25,000 ; one for $12,000 from a per- 
son unamed, and one from Ciiailes Roath, for inside work, at 
$3,400. These plans, or some of about that date, are still pre- 
served in the City Architect's office. We annex a view copied 
from the "Sketches of Boston," printed in 1851. An addition 
has since been built on the west end.' 

None of these plans were adopted, but after a long dispute 
between the branches, it was decided, July 27, 1840, to fit up the 
old Court House. '"According to a thiid plan, keeping the en- 
trances as they now are, the present stairs might be taken away, 
and new stairs carried up in the rear of the main part of the 
building, conforming i)recisely in the second and third stories, in 
all the arrangements to the plan heretofore submitted to the Couu- 

' To tr.ice the liistory of tin- Court House on Court street, it should be 
stated that, according to Snow, " the County Gaol, in Leverott street, and the 
House of Correction connected with it, and the Municipal Court House, all 
of which are handsome, stone buildings, were commenced several years 
since, but were not finished and occupied till the year 1822. In 1823 the 
old gaol was taken down, and its materials were partly used in constructing 
tlie Oun-House and Ward-Room on Tliatcher street. " 



APPENDIX F. 157 



cil by Mr. Preston," and costing $9,475. To this sum was to be 
added $3,000 for an iron fence, and grading the land in front; 
$1,000 for gas fixtures, and $1,000 for heating apparatus. 

On March 18, 1841, a convention of both branches was held 
to dedicate the new City Hall, and the Mayor, Jonathan Chap- 
man, delivered an address. However convenient the Hall may 
have proved, tliere seems to have been very little pride evinced in 
its external appearance. At least, while nearly every other large 
building in the city has been made familiar to us by numerous en- 
gravings, probably the only artistic picture of this Hall during its 
second civic occupancy, is the one engraved by a German, F. 
Coth, in 1856, and publislied in Munich. This is only one of a 
series of views illustrative of Boston on one large plate. A re- 
production is annexed. A small wood-cut of the City Hall, is, 
however, given on p. 29 of a guide-book published in 18G5, 
entitled, " Boston Sights, " edited by R. L. Midgley. A view 
also appears on the title-page of the Boston Directory from 
1853 to 1859. 

It is well-remembered th.at the increase in the city's affairs soon 
rendered this City Hall too contracted for usefulness, and that 
measures were taken for constructing a new building. A com- 
mittee, in 18G2, submitted a plan, at an estimated cost of $1G0,000, 
and the corner-stone was laid Dec. 22, 1862. The size of the 
new building allowed the foundation and front wall to be erected, 
and prepared for the corner-stone, while the City Government 
occupied the old City Hall. The last meeting of the Board of Al- 
dermen therein was on January 7, 1863 ; and on January 12, 
the Board met at the Mechanics' Hall, on the corner of Bedford 
and Chauncy streets, where rooms had been hired for the City 
Council, and some departments. Here then was the actual City 
Hall for more than eighteen months, the last session of the 
Board there being on Saturday, September 16, 1865. On the 



158 OLD STATE IIOUSK RE-BEDICATIOX. 

Monday following, a convention of both branches was helil at the 
New City Hall to dedicate it, and that building has since remained 
in use, although no longer cap,iblc of housing all the departments 
of the government under its roof. 

The estimated cost was $100,000, though no one expected that 
the expense would be covered by that sum. Some changes wera 
made in the plan, but the great apparent increase in the price 
paid was caused by the premium on gold. Accordingly, the com- 
mittee in charge felt authorizod to claim that the total expense of 
$505,191.42 as paid, was not owing to any extravagance or in- 
crease of plans. The exterior of the building has proved entirely 
satisfactory, and engraved views are numerous. 

The prediction may be hazarded that some furtlier change in 
City Hall, by the addition of the Court House building or other- 
wise, will be made in the near future. 



APPENDIX G. 



City Hall, Boston, Oct. 1, 1882. 
Alderjian William Woolley, Chairmati of the Committee in 
charge of the Restoration of the Old State House : — 

Dear Sir, — In the reconstruction and restoration of an^- 
structure it will be understood that the result must largely 
depend upon the knowledge at hand of its original character. 

In the case of the Old State House, to ascertain this was not 
altogether an easy task, T)ut with the aid of Mr. W. H. Whit- 
more, an active member of your committee, and who was en 
tirely familiar with its early historj-, much of the difficulty was 




Old /State Hou^e 




Plan of /Second Floor 

if7io)ytiiff Ci/rfyf/far »Sr,ft/Tra,fe ffal.?, an.f/. 7r7i,*T /htf.T , 'fiztr. Jtooni.S 

/Tfi mrnff ffToff7if7. tAr Sf'HJ I'f^Oftr ojifrnijiiff 

T/in CJirflpfs A. H C J) nrr<r /ir/itr/ from, f/ir Tic 3ro ///.s- oC fJic 
Kon/' /W-z^vAW /// jjirs 77//'rf/- J'^^tftr /*// four / /'/i,f,'//. ff/iiift r*^ ?-or/j7 r,ih 
77/ff/i.f/r/>'/>'fi7ijt n.f fjiff /i^ffhta C f\ d. /f 



APPENDIX G. 159 

overcome in the start. The following is an authentic statement 
of the e\iclences which were found of the original condition of the 
old building, and which have determined the work of restora- 
tion. 

In order to ascertain if there were any hidden traces left of 
the original interior, a careful carpeuter was first employed to 
make a thorough examination ; this work was carried on for 
more than four weeks, under the immediate observation of Mr. 
Whitmore and myself; several important indications were thus 
brought to light ; in fact, the exact location of all the original 
partitions of the second story was determined : upon removing 
the plastering, the outline of the original partition caps was 
found, which had been cut in between the old furrings. Also, 
corresponding indications were found upon the old under-floors, 
which, by the wa}-, had been covered at different perio<ls by two, 
and in some places bj' three, upper or finish-floors. These in- 
dications upon the original under-floors also gave me the posi- 
tion of all the doors, their thresliolds being clearly defined by 
openings directly through the under floor, as in the case of 
thresholds in old buildings of that date. 

But the most important development of all was the opening 
up of the original framing in the second floor around the 
circular staircase, as represented in the accompanying diagram. 
There was one mysterious circumstance iu connection with 
this framing, — the centre of the circular gallery of the 
staircase was found to be one foot from the centre of the 
circular hall surrounding it, when they would both be natu- 
rally drawn from one centre. This was explained, however, in 
good time, b}' the fortunate discovery of the original plans of 
the building, they having been found by Mr. Whitmore at Cin- 
cinnati ; the reason of tlie difference in the two centres was at 
once apparent, it having been purposely arranged to equalize a 



160 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATION. 

certain amount of room gained through a peculiar nianuer of 
terminating the staircase on the second-floor landing. 

The plan of the interior having been determined, and the 
nature of the accommodations, next came tlie treatment of finish, 
and tlie character of tlie architecture. Sketches and a careful 
study were at onct; made of all the buildings erected in this 
vicinity', of about the date of the Old State House ; among them, 
several dwellings at the Nortli End, Clu'ist Church, Hancock 
House, King's Chapel, Eoyall House at Medford, the Gov. 
Shirley House at Roxbury, several pul>lic ;ind private buildings 
at Salem, Newburyi)()rt, and Portsmoutli were carefully exam- 
ined. "With these studies and the several wood-cuts and litho- 
graphic plates of the old building itself, dating from the days of 
Paul Revere down (he having made the fiist engraving), together 
with existing [tieees of wood mouldings I'nund about the interior, 
sueii as pieces of cornices, bases of tlie jiilasters, pieces of old 
wood mantles, and wood wainscoting connecting with the same, 
besides tlie position of all the old wood grounds upon the brick 
walls, giving the heighls of tlie cornices, wainscoting, etc., a 
very definite idea was formed of the treatment of tlie interior 
wood finish ; also much of tlie new work that was required about 
the exterior, including the balcony at the State-street end and 
the restoration of the Washington-street door. 

In restoring the windows of the building the number of panes 
of glass in each window was determined by an oil iiainting, made 
about A.D. 1805, which is in the possession of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society.' The inuntins of the sashes are diflferent 
from those found in any other building of that period, and are 
a reproduction from the window of the second story, opening 
upon the balcony at the State-street enil. Although the use of 

' The engraving of tliis iiicture will 1>l- found ante, p. 101. 



APPENDIX G. IGl 

this peculiar tliia muutin excitetl a great deal of criticism in 
the public press, it was not decided upon finally, until after 
a careful examination of this window had been made by many 
leading architects and builders, especially those who had given 
attention to this colonial style, and it had been definitely deter- 
mined that this was the original window. In fact, but little 
doubt of its original character could exist, since the frame of 
this window, lilce all the other windows about tlie building, 
was built solid into the walls and extending back of tlie same, 
on the two sides and across the top, at least four inches ; the 
window and side lights were glazed with crown glass, which 
has not been in use for the last eighty years ; the hinges were 
of wrought iron, secured with wrought nails, and tlie fastening 
was by an old brass latch with egg-shaped handles each 
side. 

The work of restoring the exterior was not of a dilHcult 
nature, the brick moulded belt courses were easily continued 
where they had baeu removed, and the walls of the first story 
of the Washington and State street ends, whicli liad been taken 
away for modern imi)rovement, to fit the building for business 
purposes, .were easily replaced with window openings like those 
above. 

The main cornice was found in a good state of preservation, 
as also were the ten trusses supporting the roof, whicli, of 
course, determined the original outline ; these trusses were framed 
with a king post, and were constructed of oak-hewn timber, the 
principal rafters being in double sections, the under section of 
a natural curve ; the tie-l)eams of the trusses were about four- 
teen inches square and foi-med the sleepers or girders for the 
sujiport of the third floor. 

All of the roof above the cornice to the lieight of eight feet, 
between the trusses, had been removed ; but above that height. 



162 OLD STATE HOUSE UE-DEDICATION. 

forming the apex, the original boarding and jack-rafters were 
found in good condition. 

New dormer windows were placed between the trusses, the 
number, position, and proi)ortions being ascertained from tlie 
several wood-cuts ; also the five chimneys on each side, which 
were found to be of modern construction, were removed. 

The tower was discovered in a neglected and very unsafe con- 
dition ; several of the bed-plates which formerly received the 
})osts having been removed in tlie course of adapting the third 
story to business purposes, while others had been completely 
burned off ; and in those alterations the only support left for 
the tower was upon the head of two plank partitions. From 
the decayed condition of the wood finish of the exterior of the 
tower it was found necessary to remove all of the sash, two 
thirds of the pilasters, pedestals, balustrades, and carved flnials, 
and replace the same l)^' new work ; the cop[)er work of the 
roof and the old vane and lightning-rod were found in a very 
passable condition. 

The work of reconstruction occupied al)out six months' time, 
having been commenced about October 15, 1881, and completed 

in July, 1882. 

Ver}- respectfull}' submitted, 

GEORGE A. C LOUGH, 
City Architect. 



APPENDIX 11. 



Tlic following report, on the restoration and renovation of the 
Old State House (City Document No. 100 of 1882), was submitted 
to the Common Council, June 29, 1882 : — 



APPENDIX G. 163 

" The Committee on Public Buildiugs was iustructed by the 
City Council of 1881 to give effect to the following order which 
was approved by the Mayor, Sept. 17, 1881 : — 

" Ordered, That the Committee on Public Buildings be directed to lease the 
Old State House for such terras, to such parties, and upon such terras as they 
may deem for the best interests of the City of Boston ; and said committee 
are hereby authorized to expend a sum not exceeding thirty-five thousand 
dollars in repairs on building ; said sum to be charged to the appropriation 
therefor." 

"Under these instructions the committee of 1881 appointed 
Messrs. Whitmore, WooUey, O'Brien, and Morrison, in 1881, as 
a sub-committee ; and in 1882, Messrs. Woolley, Hart (Krost in 
his place from February 24th), Morrison (Whitmore in his place 
from March ■29th), and Eddy, in the same capacity. 

" Your committee begs leave to report in part, at this time, that 
the work has been substantially- finished, and to submit a detailed 
account of its expenditures. The estimate of $35,000 was as 
accurate a calculation as could be made in advance ; and though, 
as will be shown, much more has been done than was anticipated, 
the work will be finished so that the building can be delivered to 
its occupants within the amount named. 

' ' It was found that the work involved not only the removal of 
the partitions on each floor, but an elaborate reconstruction of the 
lower floor and basement, to fit them for such tenants as the city 
would desire to have in such a building. It was found neces- 
sary to heat the building by steam, in order to do away with the 
chimneys which had been put on during the present century. It 
was, of course, iu the view which the committee took, necessary 
to take off the modern French roof and to restore the old pitch 
roof ; to take out the glass front on the west end, and the flight of 
stairs on the east end, and to replace them with substantial brick 



1G4 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATIOX. 

walls and proper doors and windows. The plans of the old build- 
ing and the indications in the wood-worlv pointed to a circular 
stairway between the first and second floors. In utilizing tlie 
basement for business purposes, it was necessary to extend this 
st:iirw;iv tlu-ough that story also. The repairs to the tower were 
costly, but indispensable. The second story, containing the 
^Memorial Halls, has cost considerable money, but there every 
part of the finish had to be constructed afresh. 

" Your coniraittee annex hereto the report of the Cit}' Architect, 
showing, first, the total cost of each kind of work ; secondly the 
cost of each part of the building. It seems that of the §35,000 
the amount of $11,300 was expended for the antiquarian part, or 
the Memorial Halls ; the remainder has been economically ex- 
pended in arranging the building for business purposes, under the 
instructions to preserve and restore the original exterior. 

" In conclusion, j'our committee has to report that the work has 
revealed the fact that extensive repairs, perhaps costing $25,000, 
W'Ould liave been needed witliin a very few years, as the walls 
were crumbling, tlie timbers of the roof and tower badly decaj'ed, 
and even for renting purposes the building could not be compared 
with the modern offices in the viciait}*. It had been hoped that 
the appropriation would allow the committee to fit up the attic, 
and to provide cliandoliers, etc., for the lialls. But as the work 
can be flnislied to this poiut within the original appropriation, and 
as these fiuishiug touches can be left to our successors, it is only 
necessarj' to mention tlie facts. 

" Your connnittee would especially call attention to the zeal and 
success with which the City Architect has conducted the work. 
The details of the reconstruction of the old work have given him 
much extra labor, but it is believed that everything which has 
been done lias tlie best architectural authority for it. A full 
explanation of the changes is reserved for another opportunitj'. 



APPENDIX H. 165 

The various mechanics have heartily cooperated, and the result 
will, it is hoped, prove that the appropriation has been properly 
expended. 

'•Your committee anticipate that it can deliver up the building 
to the City Government early in Jul}', and, unless otherwise in- 
structed, it is their intention to invite the City Council to attend 
at a formal celebration of the event. 

Respectfully sul)mitted, 

WILLIAM WOOLLEY, 
CHARLE.S H. HERSEY, 
WILLIAM FROST, 
P. JAMES MAGUIRE, 
JOHN P. HILTON, 
OTIS EDDY, 
JOSEPH P. CONNELL, 
WILLIAM II. WHITMORE, 

Comraittee on Public Buildings." 



Accepted, and ordered to be printed. 

W. P. GREGG, 

Clerh. 



Office of City Architect, 
CiTv Hall, June 27, 1882. 

William Woolley, Esq., Chairman Committee in charge oj 
renovating the Old State House : — 

Dear Sir, — In compliance with the request of your committee, 
I herewith present a statement of the total cost of reconstructing 
and refitting the ancient structure, showing first the cost of each 
kind of work, together with the name of the mechanic that did it ; 
secondly, the separate cost of restoring each part of the building : — 



K36 



OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



Carpenters. 



Holbrook & Harlow 
Sidney Peterson 



James Fagan 
C. W. Baxter 



John D. Driscoll 
Walburg & Sherry 



Masons. 



Painters. 



$9,413 69 
7,451 31 



$5,301 67 
365 25 



$1,920 70 
205 60 



$16,805 00 



Roofing and Gutters. 



T. F. Harridan 



Superintendent and Watchman. 
F. A. Hatch and M. Faruhani 

Steam-heating and Ventilation. 
Ingalls & Kendricken 

Iron and Marble AVork. 
L. M. Ham and Bowker, Torrey, & Co. . 



R. R. Clark 



Brintnall & Tombs 



Granite-Work. 



Plumbing. 



Plastering. 



J. H. Davis . 

• Amount carried forward, 



5,666 92 



2,186 30 
1,128 13 
1,380 04 
1,648 66 
1,061 74 
1,099 32 
988 58 

923 19 

$32,947 88 



APPENDIX H. 



1G7 



Amount brought forward^ $32,947 88 

Carving. 
W. H. Ruinufy 850 00 

Gas-fitting. 

Charles Pierce 235 20 

Fuel, advertising, rat-catchiug, auil other miscella- 
neous items, amouut ...... 825 83 



$34,859 00 



Separate Cost of Restoring Each Part. 

Reconstruction of roof 

Alteration, Washington-street end 

Alteration, State-street end 

Construction of snlj-cellar 

Fitting up of R.R. offices 

Fitting up antiquarian rooms . 

Circular staircase, liall and stairs . $2,4G0 40 

Staircase basement stairs . . . 1,400 00 



Fitting up offices, 1st floor. State-street end 

" basement ...... 

The items of superintendence, watching, advertising, 
fuel, and work upon the walls of outside, have not 
been included iu the above amounts, in all amount- 
ing to ........ 



$4,331 44 
1,658 39 
3,195 00 
1,470 00 
1,877 85 
8,864 34 



3,860 40 
1,649 19 
3,148 43 



4,803 96 



Very respectfully submitted, 



$34,859 00 



GEORGE A. CLOUGH, 

City Architect. 



168 ULIJ STATE HOUSE KE-DEDICATlOX. 



APPENDIX I. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE " LAST WILL AXD TESTAMENT OF 
ME, ROBERT KEAYNE, ALL OF IT WRITTEN WITH MY 
OWNE HANDS & BEGAN BY ME MO: G: 1: 1653, COMONLY 
CALLED AUGUST." 

I Ilobort Kcayne, Cittizen and M'chant Taylor of London by freedome, 
and Iiy the good Providence of God now dwelling at Boston in New England 
in Aniircca being at this time through the great goodnes of my God, both in 
health of body, & of able and sufficient memory, yet considering that all 
flesh is as grasse, that must wither and will returnc to the dust, and that my 
life may be taken away in a moment, therefore tliat I may be in the better 
readinesse (and freed from the distracting cares of the disposing of my out- 
ward estate, W'' coinonly foUowestlie deferring of it, while the time of sick- 
nes or day of Death, when the rainde should be taken up witli more serious 
and waighty consideracons) I doe therefore now in my health make ordaine 
& declare this to be my Last AViU and Testament and to stand and to be as ef- 
fectual! as if I had made it in my sicknes, or in the day or houre of my 
death, which is in manner and forme following 



This being p''missed in respect of my soule & my faith in Jesus Christ, I 
doe next cofiiitt my body to the eart'.i (& to comely & decent burriallj there 
to rest till my loveing Savio' by his Almighty power shall raise it up againe, 
at whicli time I confidently beleive it shalbe reunited to my owne soule, and 
there shall receive according to the works that I have done in this life accord- 
ing as they have bcene good or evill in the sight of God, or according to that 
faith and confidence that I have in the free grace and merits of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. .\s for my Buriall I shall not desire any great outward solem- 
nitie to be used further [liJO.] then that wliich shalbe decent & civill as be- 
comes Christians knowing that extraordinary solemnities can nothing add to 
the peace or benefit of the deceased, yet haveing beene trayned up in Millitary 
Discipline from my young'' yeares, & haveing endeavoured to promote it 
the best I could since God luith brought me into this country & seeing he 
hath beene pleased to use me as a poore instrument to lay y foundation of 
that Noble Society of the Artillery Company in this place, that hath so farr 
prospered by the blessing of God as to helpe many with good experience in 
the use of theire Amies & more exact knowledge in the Millitary Art & 
hath beene a nursery to raise up many able and well experienced souldiers 
tliiit hath done since good service for their country, therefore to declare my 
affections to that exercise & the society of souldiers, I shall desire to be 
buryed as a souldier in a Millitary way, if the time & place of my death and 
other occasions may suite thereunto which I leave to the discretion of my 
executors and friends 

As fur the goods of this life which the Lord of his aboundant mercy, his 
rich & undeserved favo' hath bestowed & reserved to me the greatest of sin- 
ners and the unworthyest of all his servants I dispose of in manniT following 
* * *'* * * * * * * 

These thirds for my wife being p'messcd & my ffunnerall charges & debts 
being provided for as I have before mentioned The rest of my whole estate 



APPENDIX I. 1G9 



hnth pcrsonnall & reall with my lands housing & all othor things belonging 
to my estate I devide into two parts, the one part whereof I give and be- 
(pieath unto my welbeloved & only son Benjamin Kcayne, tlie other part of 
niy estate, I meane the just or due value of it I reserve as my owne right to 
dispose of as I please which is as herein shall after be expressed. 

********** 
I haveing long thought & considered of the want of some necessary things 
of publike concernment which may not be only comodious but very 
profitable & usefuU for the Towne of Boston, as a Market ]ilaee & C'uniUt, the 
one a good helpe in danger of fyre, the want of whicli wee have found by sad 
& costly experience not only in otiier parts of the towne where possibly they 
have better supply for water but in the heart of the towne about the market 
place, the other usefull for the country people tliat come with theire pro- 
visions for the supply of the towne, that they may liave a place to sitt dry in 
and warme both in cold raina & durty weather & may have a place to leave 
theire eorne or any other things safe that they cannot sell, till they come 
againe, which would be both an ineouragement to the country to come in & 
a great meanes to increase trading in the [125.] Towne also, to have some 
convenient roome or too for tlie Courts to meete in both in Winter & Sumer 
& so for tlie Townes men & Coniissio'"'' of the Towne, also in the same 
building or the like there may be a convenient roome for a Library & a 
gallery or some other handsome roome for the Elders to meete in & conferr 
together when they have occasion to come to tlie towne for any such ende, as 
I perceive they have many. Then in the same building there may be also a 
roome for an Armory to keepe the Armes of the Artillery Company & for the 
Souldicrs to meete in when they have occasion. Now if it should not be 
thought convenient by the Elders & Deacons or guids of the towne that all 
tliese c(mveniencyes should be under one roofe or in one place of the towne 
or tliat there be some places already built that may conveniently be used or 
fitted up with sraale cost for some of these purposes, as in the Meeting House 
for a Granere or Armory & other places in it for the Magistrates & Comissio" 
to meete in as they doe sometimes, it is true in the sumer they may, in the 
Winter tliey cannot for want of chimneyes & fyres, but it would be necessary 
& more convenient (And tlie Towne hath beene often speaking about it, to 
have such a building for such uses though yet it liatli not beene accomplished) 
if there were a place fitted on purpose & set apart for suce publike uses, and if 
advice were taken with some skilf uU & ingenious workmen & some others that 
have good heads in contriving of buildings such as Mr. Broughton, Mr. 
Clarke, the Chirirgion &e. there might sucli a model be drawne up that one 
fabricke or building may [12C.] be easily contrived that would conveniently 
accomodate all these uses, without extraordinary cost and yet maybe so done 
as would be a great ornament to the towne as well as usefull & profitable 
otherwayes but if the cheife of the towne should be of anotlr minde, tlien I 
should propose this, that the cunilit & Markett House be sett in the market place 
somewhere betweene M' Cogins house & mine or any where in that great 
streete betweene M^ Parkers House & M^ Brentons or rather M^ Webb's if it 
should be judged there to be more convenient, these two may handsomely be 
contrived in one building in W^i" possibly may be some other convenient 
roomes fitt for some of the uses before mentioned besides & for those which 
that place cannot supply, as for a Library & for a Gallere or Long Roome 
for the Devines & Schollera, to meete & conferr togeather upon any occasion 
it may be contrived to be sett all along on the foreside of the Meeting house 
joyning to it on the one side and the other side to be supported with pillars so 
the roomes about jnay be for Court meetings at the one side & the Elders at 
the other & the open roome betweene the pillars may serve for Merchants, 
M' of Shipps and strangers as well as tlie towne (being either paled or horded 
on the ground) to meete in at all times to conferr about there busines & 
occasions w<^'' I conceive would be very advantagius to the towne & may be so 



170 OLD STATIC HOUSE lUC-DKDIf'ATIOX. 



contrived & sett forth y' will bo no disprace or incuinbriince to the raeetinff house 
but iiBreat ornament to it, but if it should be thou|,'ht not eonvenientto liave it in 
the front of the .Mi-etini; 1 ItiT.J llou-ie, it may aceomi)lisli the same ends, if 
placed on that sid(- of th<> Meeting House from Searjjeant Williams Khoj) to 
])eacon Trusdalls house, or if a building jilaced in one of these two places 
may accomplish all the ends before meneoned save only the Cunditt then a 
larjje Cuinlit may be sett nji alone, al)out the place where the I'illary stands 
& the other about the meeting bouse as before w"'' I leave to th(^ best con- 
trivement of the townee &, the Elders & Deacons w'^'" building; or bciildin'js if 
the towne shall tbinke meete to ^'oe about it & improve them for the sevcrall 
uses before mentioned, only the (Jranere may be in any other place of the 
towne as shalbe thought convenient, I stand not upon that though my owne 
judgement leads me to thinke that scmie places or jibue about the Comon 
Market or near to it wilbo most suitable for many reasons. I say towards the 
buililinfi of these convenient places. 

Item I give an<l beipieath three hundreth pounds in good merchantable 
I>ay the one third part thereof when the frame is brought to the i)lace & 
raysed or some ]>art of it before when the frame is in some forwardness if 
neede be, the seconde part when the chimneyes are built, the bouse covered 
and closed in rouml ami all the iloores layd, and the last third part when it 
is quite finislied, provided that it be gone about and finished within two or 
three yeares at the most after my decease, and if any of these either a Cundet 
or Markett House sliould l)e sett up before my death, by the towne or any 
other in the place or ])laces above mentioned, then my gift shall remaine 
good either for some addition to the .'^anu' worke or for the accom|)lishiug of 
those other workes by n»e luentioin-d that are not tloiu' by others, with a re- 
hating jiroporlionalde to what [ I ii8.] is or shalbe before^ done jjy the towne 
or any other I'son, Now that these things may not be only for a show or a 
name & when finished i>rove as shaddowes & stand ai emi)tie roomes without 
substance' that they may be improved for the uses that I ayme at & intend 
though my estate is not such as whereby I am able to doe what I desire & 
would be willing to doe if had it, for such jiublike benefitt, yet for examples 
sake & encouragement of others (especially of our owne towne W^'' will 
have the benefitt of it) & such in the towne that have ]iublike sjiirits & some 
comfortable estati's to heipe on sui-h workes I shalbe willing to cast in my 
mit(' & bring my lime & hare possil)ly (iod may stirr up the hearts of others 
to bring in their JSadger skines & silke & others more costly things that the 
worke may goe on & i>rosper in so snuile a beginning 

Therefore to the Granere I give and bequeath One hundred pounds to be 
payd in Corne and that to be improved for a publike stocke to such uses & 
ends as I shall hereatter mention 

Next the Library & (Jallere for Devines & SchoUcrs to meoto in being 
finished 

1 give and bequeath to the beginning of that Lil>rary my 3 great writing 
bookes w<^'' are intended as an E.xposition or Interi)retatioii of the whole 
Hihle, as iilso a 4"> great writing booke in which is an exposition on the 
Prophecy of Daniel of tlie Revelations & the Prophecy of Hosea not long since 
began, all which IJookes are written with my owne hand so farr as they bo 
writt & could desier that some able schoUor or two that is active and dilli- 
gent & addicted to reading anil writing were ordered to carry on the same 
worke by degrees as they have leasure and opjiortunitie & in the same 
metliode and way as I have begun (if a better be not advised to) at least if 
[13$).] it shalbe esteemed for the profitt of it to young students (though 
not so to more able and learned Devines in these knowing times) worth the 
labo' as I have & doe finde it to my scdfe worth all the paines & labour I 
have bestowed upon them, so that if I had 100"' layd me downe for them, to 
dejirive me of them, till my sight Or life should be taken from me I should 
not part from them 



APPENDIX I. 17 i 



And because I perceive that the Elders of the neigbo'ing townes have ap- 
pointed certaine times in y* yeare as chiefly in Sumer time once a moneth to 
meete together to confirr aboot ordering things in the Churches according to 
God &, to debate about doubts or difficult questions that may arise, in matters of 
religion and such like and that they have noe place to meete in, but at one of 
our Elders houses nor nothing to refresh themselves with but of them v"' may 
prove too great a burthen to our Elders (the meetings being so often and con- 
tinueing constant) to beare of theire owne charge besides other burthens & in- 
conveniences they may undergoe Therefore the roome before mentioned be- 
ing fitted y'- they may meete when they please thereat I doe will and bequeath 
fower pounds a yeare to be payd out of some of my shops in B iston by 
quarterly payments w*'' may be ordered and disposed as the Eld™ shall direct 
or advise to provide some refi-eshing for them when they meete or now and 
then dinn" as farr as it will goe & as themselves shalbe pleased to husband 
it, not that I would put upon my Executor the care of such provisions or of 
buying or dressing the meate, but that he should appointe w**" shop should pay 
them so much & then they may appointe a steward of theire owne to receive 
the pay every quarter & then they to direct how it shalbe layd out or dis- 
posed of for that ende to there owne content, only I would p'misse this if 
there meeting be only in the Sumer i not in the Winter as I conceive then my 
will is that they should receive this fower [131.] pounds every Sumer, by 
forty'shUlings a quarter as that which wUbe most convenient for there meet- 
ing, and this gift of fower pounds p anno I give for the space of Ten yeareg 
from the time of my death, if that meeting continue so long in that towne, 
hoping that before then some other may be moved to step in & to add so much 
more to it as may serve to provide a moderate dinner for every time of there 
meeting so that noe part of the charge of it may lye upon themselves and 
when the 10 yeares is ended 1 doubt not if my son be then liveing here (& my 
buildings continue as now, that he would continue this gift of myn-i longer if 
that meeting continue longer & proves by experience to be much for the good 
and advantage of religion & the churches as is intended & not to the hart & 
p judice of the same 

And if a convenient fayre roome in one of the buildings before mentioned 
be sequestered & set a part for an Amory & the meeting of the Artillery if 
there it be thought convenient or if some other place be provided fur that use 
more convenient, with the Officers of that Companys advice, I am not strict 
for the very place so they have content in it, though yet I thinke the very 
hart & securest part of the towne (& noe out or by place) is the most fitt for 
a Magazene for Armes because of the danger of surprizing of them, the place 
that they now use wilbe fitt, to scower &, tend the Armes in i the other to lay 
thein up & keepe them in, which wilbe a comely sight for straingers to see & 
a great ornament to the roome & also to the towne where [13—.] the soul- 
diers may anne themselves ^-very time they goe to exercise, such a place be 
ing provided I give & bequeath five pounds for the ineouragem' of that Com- 
pany to be layd out in Pikes & Bandal" for the use of such souldiers of tliat 
Company that live in other townes, so farr as it cannot be convenient for them 
to bring there armes v'^ them, or if the Officers of that Company doe know 
any other thinge that the Company wants that wilbe more usefnll fir the gen- 
nerall good of the Company then what I liave mentioned that will continue 
& not be spent or consumed in the use, then I am willing that the whole 
or any part of this legacy may be so disposed of takeing in the advice and 
consent of my Exccntor in the same. 

*******••■ 

How concerning the original! legacy of Three hundred poands that I liave 
given to the Towne of Boston for the raysing of a Cundit in the ilarket 
place & for a building to fitt for such uses as I have before mentioned, if any 
shall alleadge that three hundred pounds is not sufficient to accomplish it I 
answ^ 1. That it may be som3 of these may be gone about & fimshcd by 



172 OLD STATE HOUSE KE-UEDICATION. 



y Towne before God may call me out of this world as y'^ Cundet or m'ket 
house &c. & then there wilbe the Icsse to doe and I know that the Towne 
hath agitated it & seriously intended to have ^'one about to doe them all 
except only y" library, as sucli tilings that are needfuil & will turne to the 
publike advantage of the Towne. L''>". I say that I conceive if it be well 
managed & ordered it may doe it all or very nearc it. I su|)i)Ose one of tlie 
two last houses that I built hath roome enough in it to accomplish all the 
ends before mentioned excepting tlie t'undit, if it had beene first contrived 
& thouglit on for such an cnde, yet that hath not cost nie 400"', not by so 
much as I suppose [I-IO.] will neare build a new Condit, but Thirdly if it 
sh(mld fall short I (loe expect & sujipose that the Towne wilbe willing to add 
to it & make up the rest cither by enlarging of the C^onvenieneyes or beauti- 
fying the structure for the better ornament of the towne & possibly some 
else nuiy tliinke of some other thing wanting, that may be as usefull to the 
genn^all good of the towne as most of these to be added to it, w"^*" I have not 
thought upon, besides if I were about to build a thinge that I conceive would 
be very usefull & advantagious to me but am not comfortably able to beare 
the charge of it, if any freind out of love to me would lend me 300'". .some 
considerable time gratise it would be a great incouragement to me to goe on 
with the worke, but if he should offer to give me freely SOO"". towards it I 
shoul.d think my selfe bound to be very thankefull to him and to he willing 
to make up what is wanting rather than 1 would loose so free a kindnes by 
my neglecting of the worke. 

But possibly some wilbe ready to apprehend that I may doe this only for 
my owne endcs & bencfitt w'" may make them the more backward to have it 
goe on especially with any of there owne Cost, for some such spiritts there 
be that had rather deny themselves a benefitt then that another shimld eiijoye 
a greater benefitt by it, as some have said tluit I have beene very forward to 
have a tUindit in y' place because I have so many houses & buildings there 
about & so a Market House [14:1.] wilbe more the beneficiall to bring trade 
to my shops. I answ"" ]>utt case that this were in all things true, it is not sine- 
full nor unlawfull in Christian prudence to pvide meanes for the p'veuting 
of danger or procureing of any lawfull good, 1 doubt not but they vv-ould doe 
the like if it were their owne case. But 2''b' what advantage will this be 
to me when I am dead and gone, if others should not receive more benefitt 
then I by it I need not trouble my selfe with what may fall <uit in after times, 
in these respects for I shall feele no want, nor sutler any damage by such 
losses & a 100 things would come into consideration as needfuil to p'vent 
or provide for as tliese, if men goeing out of the world should trouble them- 
selves with the care of such changes and things that may happen when they 
are dead 3'".' If my housen only were there &, no other shops but niync, 
there might be more ground for such an apprehension, but it is the heart of 
the towne and many fayre buildings & shops there be round about, the 
Market is there seated ailready, the Market house is more for the conveniency 
of Strang" & there accomodation in winter and sumer in wet & dry there for 
the inhabitants of the towne & in that respect it is a worke of cbaritie and 
mercy and though some pticular psons that trade may liave more benefitt 
by it then some otlier psons that dwell further off, yet the advantage & 
profitt of it will redound to the whole towne in genn'all and for my owne 
pticular I haveing given overtrade [14li.] long agoe) the nearenes of the 
market is more chargeable than beneficiall to me, if I looked not at a 
genn^all & publiko good, mure then my private & for the Cunditt I confesse 
it is very necessary & usefull in many respects, especially in danger of fyre 
& well it were if there were more of them in the towne then there is, but 
that it wilbe m;)re beneficiall to me or that 1 shall have more neede of it then 
others who can tell, who knowes y' my house alone shalbe sett on fyre, God 
may ji'^serve niyne thougli divers others may be consumed, as it fell out lately 
by sad experience, had there beene a Condit in the Market place before, then 
would it not have beene looked at & found to be a publikc good, might not 



APPENDIX I. 173 



some of the houses becne saved that were consumctl more worth then tlie 
charge of setting up three or fower sucli Comlitts, nay if the fyre had gone 
on in its rase as it was most like (had not God in unexpected mercy 
p'vented it) & ceased upon others houses as it threatened to doe, tlie wliole 
towne would have had cause to thinlce & to have bewailed the want of it) 
that such a Conditt was a publique good & the want of it a publique evill 
though some pti'cular psons might have had the hcnefite of it at that time 
more tlian others, and at some other times others might have had more neede 
& more henefitt by it than they but if my houses & shopes stoode alone or 
if I only should need & not others, if it were for my owne private & not for 
the publique good of others, I would build a C'ondit & a Market house too if 
there were neeiie [14JJ.] at my own charge without calling in the heipe of 
otliers & I thinke if my owne heart deceive me not, my ayme in all these 
things i)ropc)sed is for the genn'all good of the towne & that if I had noe 
house thereabouts but had lived in soiue other part of the towne, I should be 
as forward to jjromote these workes as I have beene formerly or am at this 
pi'sent, so I should desire all my loveing brethren & neighbo''' of tlie towne 
to interp''' & accept of what I tender to them, as a friiite of my true endeavo' 
& desire of the townes good & not at any private advantage of me or niyne & 
as one y' have beene willing & desireous to helpe them forward in my life- 
time rather than death, And for that legacy of one hundred pound before 
mentioned for y^ Grannere to begin a stocke for a publiipie magzine of 
Come for the towne or cheifely the poorer sort in it, now what private ends 
or advantage can any one apprehend I can have in that when I am dead & so 
for the library & armory & Plattforme & liutt for the incoiragem' of the 
Artillery Company & or free schoole or what I had set apart form'ly for the 
trayning up of the Indians Children in learning & some English scholl™ to 
learne the Indian Tongue, now if these cannot but be interp'ted for a pub- 
lique and genn'all good to the towne why should any conceive otherwise of 
the other, for the Conditt there is none in the markett i)lace & if such a 
worke be needfuU in any p'. of the towne, it is 5 times more needfull there 
[ l-tl.] & so for the market house except there were more publique markets 
set up in some othere p''. of the towne & though God hath beene pleased in 
some measure to carry me on with a publique spirit to sceke the good of the 
towne according to that abillity which God hath beene jileased to afford unto 
me though I am not able to doe according to the largenes of my desire hope- 
ing that God will raise up some others after nie, of abler estates & opener 
hearts & hands to add larger additions to these weake beginnings or to begin 
some others that may be more useful! than these. 



And for the Three hundred pounds which I have given to the Towne of 
Boston to build a Condit, a Alarket house & Towne liouse with a Library 
Grannere & Armore, as I have before mentioned if the towne of Boston 
shall slight or undervalue this gift or my good will to them therein & shall 
refuse or neglect to goe about & finish these seVall bnililings in manner & 
time before mentioned rather tlian they wilbc troubled with it, or add aiiv- 
thing of theire owne for the finisbeing of it. then my will is that this gift iif 
300">. given to Boston for the uses of those buildings before mentioned shall 
utterly cease .and become voyd in respect of Boston & those giftes that I have 
given with relation to those buildings as my Bookes to the Library &■=. or any 
others of them that I have [li>3.] not before jirovided for & ordered slialbe 
& remane to the sole use of the Collidge at Cambridge in the same manner 
th.at I have ordered the former l-'O"". in Ccrne for the poore in Boston, in 
case the Deacons or Towne shall refuse or neglect to give security for the 
principall stocke as before is mentioned. 

My true meaning herein is this that if the Towne of Boston shall sett 
upon one ortwoof these workes & neglector refuse to carry on the rest (or some 
of the other that I have mentioned happely being done by the Towne before 



174 OLD STATE HOUSE RE-DEDICATION. 



I dye) as if they should build only tho Condit & Mnrkct house & not a Towncs 
house or Library & Gallere or a Grannere & Armore & not a Condit or 
Market liouse &,'^. then uiy will is that my cxecuto' shall jjive only sucli a 
proportion of this Three hundredth pounds as that worke or building shall 
<'onie too, w'^'' they set upon only in relation to this gift of mync, eonipared 
with the value of the other buildings tliat I have likewise mentioned buttliey 
have left undone & that what upon that aeeonnt shalbe reserved of the 300"'. 
shallie for the use of the CoUidge of Cambridge, as I have given the whole 
300"'. in case they refuse or neglect to tinish all those buildings or any of 
them within two or three yeares after ray death as before I have ordered. 



And concerning my bookes that I have given to begin the Library with all 
in Boston, my will is that my brother Willson & M' Norton Eld'^ at Boston 
or the teaching Eld" that shall at the time of my death (after my wife and 
son Benjamine have made choyce of some bookes for tlieire owne use as I 
have before e.xpressed) may be renuested to take paines to view over the rest 
of my bookes & such as they shall judge fitt for that use to take a pticul' note 
or inventory of them & so to take them into there owne keeping or to leave 
them with my e.xeeuto'' if they will, till the time mentioned in this will be ac- 
complished, that if the towne of Boston should not within three yeares after 
my death build a handsome roome for a library & anoth'' for the Eld™ & 
SchoU'" to walke & niecte in, as before I have expressed, that then they may 
[157.] be delivered to the I'resident or some of the Overseers of Herbert 
CoUidge in Cambridge to be placed as my gift or addition to that Library that 
is already begun there. 

********** 
********** 

Therefore I doe here againe declare all that which is contained before in nine 
sheetes of paper writt with my owne hand in all the sides thereof & more par- 
ticularly expressed in tlie 3(5 page y' of with all that is added to it in this page 
.37 to be my last Will & Testament & my son Major Benjamine Keayne to 
be sole executor thereof & my loveing freinds mentioned in the lower ende 
of page 3G to be the overseers of it. 

In Wittnes whereof as there so here agiiine I have putt to my hand & se.ale 
in the p''sence of these whose names & handes are hereunder written this 
December 28, 1G53 

Robert Keatxe & a scale 

JoHx 'WiLi.soN Edw Ting 

Richard Parker Ron'' Hull 

Edw Filetcher 

[274.] Att a County Court held at Boston 2d of M.ay IfiSfi 
M' John Wilson Sen. M'. Richard Parker & M^ Edwanl Tyng deposed before 
the Court that Ca]>' Robert Keayne at y"^ times mentone(l in the thirty sixt 
page & tliirty seventh pag. did call them in and declared these nine sheets of 
jiaper & one page to be his last will & testament & sawe him signe and scale 
the same & y' they know of no other will w"^'' was approved of by y' Court as 
attests 

Edward Rawson Recorder 
[In Margin, page 273.] 

At a County Court for Suffolke heldat Boston 

2',)"' Janur" A" KiSS 
The Execute" within nominated of the last will of t^apt" Robert Keyne 
sometime of Boston dece'' hereto annexed being both dead ! Power of 
,\diM'^"" of y" estate of s'' Cap'"' Keyne is granted unto M' Nicholas Paige and 
Anna his wife Grand daughf of s'' Robert Keyne to pursue the performance 
of his will in what remains to be done therein, they to give Bond of one 
tlnnisand pounds to execute the same, their own bond being accepted by y' 
Court is accordingly taken 

Attest Is-* .Vddixgton Cl"= 



INDEX. 



INDEX, 



Acts, published, 42. 

Adams, Jolm, 70, 71, 85. 

Adams, Samuel, 74, 84. 

Andros, Sir E., 35, 37. 

Armory, 53, 169, 171, 174. 

Arms, Colony and Royal, Gl, 64, 95. 

destroyed, 93, 148. 
Artillery Co., Ancient and Honcrable, 

27, 41, 1G3, 171. 
Assessors' Report, 104-106. 

Badger, Commodore, 126. 

Balcony or gallery, 35, 40, 43, 50, .^.i, 

64, 65, 90, 92, 94. 
Boston Gazette, 93. 
Boston Magazine, 94. 
Bowdoin, Gov. James, 94. 
Bowen, Picture of Boston, 109, 113. 
Br.azer's Imilding, 23, 24, 25. 
British Coffee House, 80. 
Bunker Hill, battle of, 91. 

Cadets, corps of, 56, 90. 
Castle, the, 56, 86. 
Cellars, 31. 

Chantrey, statue by, 111. 
Chimneys, 54. 
Church, Old Brick, 92. 

Old South, 69, 84. 
City Hall, 104, 113, 114, 152-158. 
Clerk, town, 53, 66. 

of the House, 75. 
Clock, town, 53. 
Closet, 48. 
Codfish, the, 61, 64. 
Commissioners, 27. 
Conduit, 27, 33, 34, 171-175. 
Congress, 90. 

Council-chamber, 40, 43, 45, 47, 49, 
50, 57, 61, 70, 79. 



Court, General, 27, 30, 37, 42,98, 169. 

Supreme, 37, 43, 49, 80. 
Court House, Stone, 110, 147. 

new, 155. 

Leverett St., 156. 

Declaration of Independence, 92. 
Deputies, number of, 51. 
Deshon, Moses, carver, 61. 
Desk, Speaker's, 62. 
Dial, 53. 
Dunton, John, 31. 

Ellis, Rev. Rufus, 19. 
Engine, fire, 61. 
Evacuation of Boston, 92. 
Exchange, merchants', 32, 114. 

Faneuil, arms of, 151. 

Hall, 60, 66,69,77, 98, 110, 
149-151. 
Fires, 30,34,44,57,107,111, 115,151. 
Fort Hill, 35. 

Franquelin, map of Boston, 33. 
Freemasons, 109, 110. 
French troops welcomed, 94. 
Funerals, public, 50. 

Gage, Gov. Thomas, 90. 

Gallery {see Balcony), 62, 76, 88, 

170, 175. 
Garrison, William L., 119. 
Goelet, Capt. Francis, 60. 
Governor, messages from, 52. 
Grammar-school Inspectors, 49. 
Granary, 27, 169, 173. 
Gray's ropewalk, 81. 
Green, Samuel A., address by, 121. 
Green chamber, the, 53. 
Gridley, Col. Richard, 56. 



178 



INDEX. 



Hales' Survey of Boston. 11"). 

Half-square Court, 25. 

Hancock, Gov. John, 88, 90. 

Healths, drinking of, 42. 

Hersey, Aid. Charles H , address hy, 

18. 
Howe, Gen., 01. 

Hutchinson, Gov. Thomas, 80, 8:3, 
85, 88, 89. 
house burnt, 73. 

Independence, birth of, 72. 

Joy, Thomas, builder, 30. 
Josselyn, Thomas, 31. 

Keayne, Capt. Robert, 24, 26, 27. 

founds the Town House, 31. 

signature, 28. 

will, 1G8-174. 
Kidd, Capt. AVilliam, tried, 40. 
Knowles, Commodore, 57. 

Lechford, account bj-, 2G. 
Lej^islature, at Cambridge, 8G, 88. 

at Salem, 90. 

at AVatertown, 91, 93. 

returned to Boston, 93, 
94, 97. 
Lexington, battle of, 91. 
Liberty tree, 73. 
Library, town, 27, 33, 170, 174. 
Limestone found, 40. 
Lion and Unicorn, G4, 145-148. 
Lobby, 43, 49. 
Long, Gov. John D., 126. 
Louisburg, capture of, 50, 55. 

Magazine, the public, 171. 
Market House, 172-174. 

place, 24, 32, 172-174. 
Massachusetts Magazine, the, 63, 95. 

98. 
Massachusetts Fire Insurance Co., 98. 
Meeting-house, First, 25, 42, 44, 49, 

53, 81, 170. 
Model of Town House, 28, 169. 
Molineaux, William, 82. 

Neal, Daniel, descrii)tion by, 4G. 



Old Soutli Church, G9, 84. 
Old State House {see State House). 
Otis, Harrison Gray, address liy, 117. 
Otis, James, 70, 80. 

Painter's bill in 1773, G4. 
Pemberton, Thomas, description by, 

97. 
Pepperell, Sir William, 55, 5G. 
Phips, Sir William, 38. 
Dame Mary. 39. 
Pillars, 53, 1G9. 
Pillory, the, 165. 

Population of Boston, 34, 38, 4G, 54. 
Port Bill, the Boston, 90. 
Portraits mentioned, 18, G2, 65, 72, 

85, 91. 
Post Office, 114. 
Pownal, Gov. Thomas, GS. 
Pratt, Chief Justice, 70. 
Prayers, public, 47. 
Press-gang, trial of, 79. 
Preston, Capt., triil of, 82. 
Prorogation, 42. 
Province House, the, 91. 

Quebec, 43. 
Queen Anne, 41. 
Quelcl\, Capt. John, 42. 
Quincy, .losiali, .Ir., 87. 

He-dedication, 17. 
Registry of Deeds, 45. 
Hepresentatives' Hall, 37, 43, 52, 62, 

63, 95, 98. 
Revolution of 1688, 35. 
Rogers, Isaiah, 112. 
Royal Exchange Tavern, 60. 

Salmon, Robert, 110, 115. 

Seal, Colony, 146. 

Sewall, Samuel, extracts from diary 

of, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 

49, 50, 51. 
Shaw's History of Boston, 108. 
Shirley, Gov. William, 62. 
Shops, 32, 54, 107. 
Siege of Boston, 91. 



INDEX. 



170 



Snyder, Christoplier, killed. 81. 
Speaker, 51, 52. 
Stairway, circular, G2, 159. 
Stamp Act riots, 73, 75. 
State-street riots, 81, 82. 
State House, old, engravings of, 10, 
11, 12, 13. 
founded, 23. 
model, 28, 1G9. 
description of the first, 

28, 29. 
paid for, 30. 
tenants, 31, 32, 101, 103, 

110. 
head-quarters against 

Andros, 35. 
used by Legislature, 37, 

94. 
council-chamber in, 38. 
burnt in 1711, 44. 
rebuilt, 45, 133-138. 
arrangement of, 47, 50, 
public sales at, forbid- 
den, 52. 
repaired, 54. 
riot against press-gangs, 

57. 
burnt in 1747,58,59, GO. 
described in 1750 by 

Goclct, Gl. 
town offices iu Faneuil 

Hall, GO. 
described in 1791, G3. 
refusal to clean, G7. 
described by Jolin 

Adams, 70, 71. 
galleries in, 7G. 
troops lodged in, 78. 
injured by British 

troops, 91. 
used by the State, 94. 
peace proclaimed at, 94. 
Hancock installed at, 94. 
Washington received at, 

95. 
described in 1794, 97. 
sold to the town, 99. 
title disputed, 100. 



State House, title settled, 102. 

described in 1817, 108. 

described in 1829, 109. 

slight fire in 181G, 107. 

injured by fire in 1825, 
111. 

used as City Hall, 112. 

described in 1838, 113. 

fire in 1832, 115. 

leased by the city, IIG. 

injured by alterations, 
116. 

restored in 1881, IIG. 

new, 97. 
Subscribers to first Town House, 131- 
133. 

Table Council, 47. 
Tea Party, Boston, 89. 
Tenants, 106-110. 
Thanksgiving Day, 177G, 94. 
Thompson Family, 25. 
Topliff's Newsroom, 114. 
Town House, 174. (See, also, State 
House.) 

first, 129-133. 

rebuilt, 133-145, 
Town meetings, 4G. 
Trials 49. 

Triumphal Arch, 95. 
Troops removed, 86. 

Views, engraved, notice of, 10, 11, 12, 

13, 98. 
Voters, 26, 29, 42, 88. 

Waldo, Gen. S.amuel, 56. 
Warren, Admiral Sir Peter, 55, GG. 
AVashburn, William, 112. 
Washington George, 95. 

statue of. 111. 
Watertown, LegisL-iture at, 90. 
Whitmore, William H., address by, 

22. 
Wilder, Marshall P., address by, 124. 
Willard, Secretary, letter of, 59. 
Witchcraft, trials, 39. 
Writs of Assistance, 70, 72. 



